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Christianity in Japan

When Mendez Pinto, the Portuguese sailor, who discovered Japan in 1542, returned to Goa, he took with him Anjiro, a Japanese, who afterwards became a Roman Catholic. Francis Xavier asked Anjiro whether the Japanese were likely to accept Christianity. Anjiro replied, " They will not immediately assent to what I say ; but they will investigate what is said concerning religion by a multitude of questions, and, above all, by observing whether my conduct agrees with my words. This done, the Daimios, the nobility, and the adult population will flock to Christ ; for they are a nation which always follows reason as a guide." Xavier carried the cross to Japan, and Anjiro's promise was in a measure fulfilled. The Catholic Church soon numbered its converts by hundreds of thousands. But, after a brief season of prosperity, Japanese Christianity was crushed out of existence by violence and persecution; and the empire returned into the old faith. To-day, Anjiro's promise again seems to be floating in the air; and there is a general impression that Christianity will soon become the prevailing religion of Japan.

This remarkable people have broken away from the domination of Chinese literature and ideas, which have hitherto been their only guide outside of themselves, and are looking to Europe and America for fresher and wider culture. It seems to be taken for granted that, as they have adopted our railroads and telegraphs, our ships and guns, our mili-

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[s.l.] : [s.n.].,
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24 p. ; 23 cm
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English
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online resource
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Fian
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https://archive.org/details/christianityinja00davirich/page/n9/mode/2up
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