Hence a really true Christian life has more effect on them than many sermons. Preaching they will listen to, whatever the subject; criticize and perhaps admire it; but it is the living Christ in a man that can alone reach the heart. The greatest danger to the religious life in Japan is the spread of an intellectual Christianity without a living Christ. It has been said that the Japanese are a fickle people, lacking steadfastness, but there is abundant evidence both in history and in the present day to disprove such an assertion. Japanese assents easily, and as long as he is on the quest for truth he may seem changeable and fickle, for, like the Athenian, he is ready to hear "some new thing." But when he is convinced at heart, when he has found the truth, he is steadfast

A

too often live very differently to what their belief would lead you to expect. They have come home and established a system of higher education upon Western models. Is it any wonder that they have been led astray? And then, when we are obliged to add that even some of those who once preached Christ have turned aside from the Gospel, thus building again the things which once they destroyed, is it any wonder that this bright, intellectual, progressive people refuse to be led by those who have a name to live, but not the power? "The Japanese," we were told on our arrival, "are willing to have Christianity in their land, but they do not want Christ." It is not so much that they do not want Christ, as that they have scarcely had the chance given them to find Him.

and consistent in following it out, ready to face persecution rather than deny his faith.

True there are also discouragements. The antiforeign re-action of the last few years evincing itself at one time in the restriction of resident passports, the dismissal of foreign teachers, the refusal to let or sell houses to foreigners (unless in Japanese employ), except on their own Concession, has its source mainly not in any dislike to Christianity, but in distrust of Western power and influence. Nevertheless, it cannot but retard the spread of Christianity. Another hindrance to the Gospel is certainly the spread of intellectual scepticism throughout the land. The Japanese have come in large numbers to American and German Colleges. They have heard there the traths of the Gospel criticised and called in question, and they have also seen that Christians

1 The passport privileges have been recently greatly extended.

It is remarkable how many converted ex-policemen have become zealous workers in God's vineyard.

We witnessed a most interesting service in the American Episcopal church

when eighteen converts were baptised, many of them, amongst others a former Buddhist priest, being the fruits of the labour on a certain island of a Japanese evangelist who had served his time in the police force.

In two other cities we saw earnest and well-educated Christian pastors, who had served in the same calling. The wife of one of these, a bright refined Christian lady, with a good knowledge of English, sitting Japanese fashion with her arm round her little daughter, told us how the children at school had called after the Christian child in mockery, "There goes Jesus, Jesus!" and said, "I tell her it is too great an honour for us to be called by that Name."

Amongst policemen still in the service we met with some striking cases of conversion. One man, speaking of his district, said he knew the place thoroughly, every corner of it; it had always been regarded, and truly so, as the worst and poorest quarter of the city; but now he could bear witness to a great change there. The place used specially to be noted for the bad, wild children who lived there and were constantly being reported at the stations; but a very small number only, nowadays, give trouble. "The men have changed," he continued; "the women changed--the whole neighbourhood has changed." Then he stated the surprising fact that, instead

have

these mission-workers came, and gathered them all in."

This man had attended the mission meetings more or less frequently from the beginning-that is, had stood outside by the door, listening. But, after some time, he had encouraged himself with a little saké (strong drink), and had boldly gone inside. Moreover, he had procured a second-hand Bible, and begun to read the Gospels. As he read, light came into his soul.

"I found there," he said, "all I wanted, all I needed to teach me what to know and to do and to be."

Then he went on to say what Christ had since been to him, and how he was trying to follow Him. He takes now his daily work as a Foliceman as from God, and tries to fulfil it in every detail so as to please Him, and to follow the example of Christ. "When I have a case to deal with," he said, "I say to myself, 'Now it is very important for me to remember Christ, and how He would deal with this case if He were here.'"

He was asked why it was thought a policeman could not be a Christian, whether there was any truth in this? "It is not true," was the emphatic

VICTORY.

answer. "I can be a far better policeman than before." And he proceeded to enlarge upon his

idea that if only every man in Japan knew Christ, there would be no such things as prisons.

He had given up drink, not having taken any for several months, and enumerated the different advantages he had found from this, especially the many hours rescued from drowsiness and stupor. In every respect his life was changed.

"The standpoint of Christianity, I find," he said, "is love. So now I deal differently with the people from what I did before. I used to be harsh with them and severe, but this only forced them to appear right on the outside; there was no real change in them. Now, I use kind words only, and succeed much better."

That he had a strong influence over the people was evident, not from his own words merely, for a Japanese gentleman, to whom his story was related, said he had seen an account in the papers

B. KIDA ("A SERVANT OF JESUS").

of this very policeman in which it was stated that the love of the poor people for him was quite remarkable.

About a week later this policeman came for the first time to a weekly prayer meeting, held in the house of the lady by whom this particular mission had been started. At this meeting, which was numerously attended, a poor man was present, lately converted from a terrible life of thieving and drunkenness. The policeman knew him well, and meeting him in the hall at the close of the meeting he went up to him at once, saying: "Welcome! I am glad to see you here; this is just the house for men like you to come to."

Another policeman who attended this meeting is now (having served his time) working as an assistant to 66 our own missionary" in Japan.

"Our own missionary" in Japan-that is, the one sustained by the Police Missionary Union of

cross,

Great Britain-w -was once a policeman. After serving a short period in the Force he went to America, hoping to make his fortune. There he learned English, and, far better, while in service in a Christian college he learned the worthlessness of all idol-worship; he found out his own need of a Saviour and was led to see in Christ the Lamb of God, who had borne his sins upon the and was "able to save to the uttermost " all who would "come unto God by Him." The young Japanese was baptised, and from that tine was fully yielded to the service of Jesus. After working for a short time in a mission on the Pacific coast, he returned to his own land, full of longing for the salvation of his countrymen, and, arriving shortly before the time of our visit to Japan, he was appointed as our missionary, working in the Scripture Union under the superintendence of Dr. Whitney, whose work is so well known in Japan. On his cap he wore the inscription: "A servant of Jesus," which he found at first helpful in introducing himself to his former comrades.

Our missionary's work is of a quiet and unobtrusive character, but full of interest and encouragement. He holds meetings with the Christian police and inquirers, and takes every opportunity afforded him of speaking to his late comrades in the Force either individually or in numbers. The Scripture Union of Japan has now about 12,000 members, and many of the policemen have joined the union, and have become regular readers of the Word of God. Permission has been granted for the distribution of the Scriptures both among the soldiers and police; and through the agency of the British and Foreign Bible Society, over 4000 Testaments and portions were recently distributed (in August, 1895), to the police and prison warders of Tokyo, all having the rules of the "Police and Prison Warders' Mission" bound up in the cover. Both the Religious Tract Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society are carrying on an excellent work in Japan, not only directly, but also by assisting in the distribution of Christian literature by means of missionaries and travellers.

During our visit [in 1893] we gave away a large number of Scripture portions, and only in one case was the gift refused. On the other hand, it was often most gratefully accepted, and in several instances those who had received it became inquirers after the truth. During a long journey in a railway car we gave, amongst others, a copy of St. Luke's Gospel to a gentlemanly-looking man. He began at the first page and read earnestly on to the end. Then rising, and coming across the car to where we sat, he smiled and bowed, pointing to the gospel. I offered him a St. Mark, which he gladly accepted and went back to his seat. A long time passed, during which he sat buried in his book, and then he stood before us again, bowing and pointing to the book. This time we gave him St. John, and he read it steadily till he left the train, when he thanked us with many bows and asking by signs if he might keep all three. Who can tell how far the power of one gospel may reach? God says, "My Word shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which

I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it" (Isa. lv. 11).

We heard of a village far away in the country, where a missionary on his first visit found no less than fifteen families, all worshippers of the true God, believers on Christ; and the only agency, that he could discover, in the conversion of these families had been one copy of the Scriptures given to an inhabitant of the village while on a journey and read by him to his neighbours.

May the Word of God still be increasingly carried to the dark places of the earth, and the light of the Gospel be manifested in the lives of those who know it, for "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth" (Isa. lii. 7).

Our departure from Japan was somewhat characteristic of our visit. In calling upon the Chief of Police at Kobe (the brother of the Chief at Tokyo) he informed us that in his Water Police Department he had an excellent steam laurch, and he

most courteously offered, through his interpreter, to make use of it by putting us on the morrow on board our steamer for Shanghai. Accordingly at the appointed hour we were on the wharf and soon steaming away in the luxurious little launch, with its handsome red velvet-cushioned saloon and its shining brass railings. The interpreter, who was also an inspector, was busy on deck; the chief, in his smartest uniform, sat bolt upright, gazing politely but silently upon us; and we in silence heartily wished that the Japanese language I could have been learned in four weeks. The little vessel sped on across the water till we reached the great ocean steamer towering above it in the darkness. The police officers sprang out and politely assisted us to mount the staircase. The interpreter translated our good-byes, and the silent chief bowed low and then shook us, English fashion, by the hand, accepted one of our books, and then disappeared into his launch and was lost to us in the darkness. The white Empress bore us onward, and soon the dim shadowy shores of Japan and the lights of Kobe had faded from our sight; only the longing in our heart increased and deepened-Japan for Christ.

T has been an incidental advantage of the Carlyle centenary, that the minds of men have been turned with new interest to the man himself, and to his work, apart from all derogatory surroundings. We have heard something less of his dyspepsia and his home-troubles, of cocks that crowed and dogs that harked, and of the unfortunate damsel who practised her "scales" by the open window of the next house-something less of the cataracts and breaks by which the flow of his domestic peace was too often roughened : and something more of his assured beliefs, of his intense and utter sincerity, and of the high lessons of resolution and independence which he inculcated, not in vain, upon a younger generation that has responded to the impulse and has already effected great things for the world. Here has Carlyle's true power. Many of his opinions have aroused a just and intense antagonism in minds that have nevertheless been stimulated and inspired by his spirit; his views of contemporary men and events have been eagerly disowned by many who yet have learned from him to pursue the path of progress; he has been a light and guide to souls that have regarded his gloomy forecasts as mistaken, and in face of their venerated master's pessimism have

been

"Never doubted clouds would break,
Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wr
would triumph;

Held, we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better,
Sleep to wake."

The message of despair which he sometimes appears to utter, was in part the result of temperament. We trace this in his early life. Take the following letter to De Quincey, from Craigenputtock, December, 1828:

"In idle hours we sometimes project founding a sort of colony here to be called the Misanthropic Society; the settlers all to be men of a certain philosophic depth, and intensely sensible of the present state of literature: each to have his own cottage, encircled with roses or thistles as he might prefer; a library and pantry within, and huge stack of turf-fuel without; fenced off from his neighbours by firwoods, and when he pleased, by cast metal railing, so that each might feel himself strictly an individual, and free as a son of the wilderness; but the whole settlement to meet weekly over coffee, and there unite in their Miserere, or what were better, hurl forth their defiance, pity, expostulation, over the whole universe, civil, literary, and religious."

This was Carlyle's play, though with a grimly humorous meaning behind. Yet in his more serious and thoughtful moods, about the same time we have him writing thus:

:

"We confess, the present aspect of spiritual Europe might fill a melancholic observer with doubt and fore

boding. It is mournful to see so many noble, tender, and high-aspiring minds, deserted of that religious light which once guided all such: standing sorrowful on the scene of past convulsions and controversies, as on a scene blackened and burnt-up with fire; mourning in the darkness because there is desolation, and no home for the soul; or, what is worse, pitching tents among the ashes, and kindling weak earthly lamps which we are to take for stars. This darkness is but transitory obscuration; these ashes are the soil of future herbage and richer harvests. Religion, Poetry, is not dead; it will never die. Its dwelling and birthplace is in the soul of man, and it is eternal as the being of man. In any point of Space, in any section of Time, let there be a living Man; and there is an Infinitude above him and beneath him, and an Eternity encompasses him on this hand and on that; and tones of Sphere-music, and tidings from loftier worlds, will fit round him, if he can but listen, and visit him with holy influences, even in the thickest press of trivialities, or the din of busiest life. Happy the man, happy the nation, that can hear these tidings, that has them written in fit characters, legible to every eye, and the solemn import of them present at all moments to every heart! That there is, in these days, no nation so happy, is too clear; but that all nations, and ourselves in the van, are, with more or less discernment of its nature, struggling towards this happiness, is the hope and glory of our time." ("State of German Literature,” 1827.)

"The hope and glory of our time!" Would that Carlyle had always been true to this larger hope! Yet it never altogether deserted him. Witness his address to the young men of Edinburgh in 1866 "Work, and despair not. Wir heissen euch hoffen: We bid you be of hope!' Let that be my last word." The representatives of a coming era were before him; and in spite of himself, he could not but bid them be of good cheer.

Undoubtedly the foundation of all that was morally and spiritually greatest in his character was laid in his early Annandale life, and in his Puritan training. He has told us in his Reminiscences what manner of man his father was; and among the most beautiful things in Mr. Froude's Biography are the mother's tender letters both before and after the son had become distinguished, with his sympathetic, loving replies.

"My Mother, with a true woman's heart, and fine though uncultivated sense, was in the strictest acceptation Religious. How indestructibly the Good grows, and propagates itself, even among the weedy entanglements of Evil! The highest whom I knew on Earth I here saw, bowed down, with awe unspeakable, before a Higher in Heaven; such things, especially in infancy, reach inwards to the very core of your being: mysteriously does a Holy of Holies build itself into visibility in the mysterious deeps; and Reverence, the divinest in man, springs forth undying from its mean envelopment of Fear." (Sartor Resartus, bk. ii. ch. 2.)