IV. The War with China.-1. The decisive victory gained in the war with China during 1894-5 has raised Japan to a new position among the nations of the East. The contest arose from China's unwillingness to acknowledge the independence of Korea, and her alleged violation of agreements that had been made with Japan concerning that kingdom. Though Japan was victorious, the com bined interference of Russia, France, and Germany prevented her from retaining the territory that she had conquered in Northern China. She received instead a large indemnity, and was allowed to keep Formosa, which had been occupied by Japanese soldiers. The necessity of yielding to the demands of the three European nations was felt by the Japanese to be a humiliation, and there was much bitterness, especially against Russia.

2. Some of the results of the war as regards Japan itself are thus described by Dr. D. C. Greene: "It gave a new impetus to almost every department of secular life. It was natural, in view of the large indemnity secured from China, that the army and navy should be pushed forward as rapidly as possible, in order that she might claim to be the dominant power in Eastern Asia. This undue emphasis is much to be regretted, because it can hardly fail to stimulate the military spirit to a degree not merely harmful to Japan, but also to the world. Still, it cannot be denied that the extraordinary development of the national consciousness, which is directly traceable to the experiences of the past three years, has been, on the whole, healthful. Some of its manifestations have been unhappy, and some of the claims put forth have been extravagant; but there has been abundant evidence of vigorous life, which we may well trust to assert itself against the more or less morbid features incident to the excitements of these stirring times."

V. Revision of the Treaties.-1. Japan had for years attempted to gain the consent of Western nations for a revision of treaties. Those that had been made in 1858 and the following years restricted the rights of Japan in regard to the duties imposed on imports, and also provided for a system of extra-territoriality, by which foreigners charged with crime were tried in the consular courts of their own nationality. The different Ministers for For

eign Affairs had labored hard to effect a change; long conferences were held with the representatives of Western nations; various drafts were prepared; "treaty revision was for years a subject for discussion in newspapers, chambers of commerce, and missionary conferences, and several cabinets went out of office because of failure to bring about what the nation desired.

2. The United States had for a long time been ready to grant a revision, but the consent of all the nations was necessary. At last, in 1894, the country was rejoiced to learn that a treaty had been signed with Great Britain, which granted, after July, 1899, judicial and tariff autonomy to Japan. Upon the other hand, British subjects were, after the same date, to be permitted to travel, reside, and carry on business in the interior. Similar treaties have since been negotiated with other nations, so that July, 1899, bids fair to mark an important date in Japan's history. At that time she finds herself received as an equal into the sisterhood of nations.

IX

MODERN MISSIONS

I. Interest concerning Japan before Its Re-opening.Even before Japan entered into treaty relations with Western lands, the eyes of those who were interested in the extension of Christianity turned toward this mysterious country and longed to see its closed doors thrown open for the entrance of the Gospel.

A. AMONG ROMAN CATHOLICS.-I. Ecclesiastical Appointments. The Roman Catholic Church could not forget the past successes of its missionaries nor cease to pray that the land consecrated by the blood of so many martyrs might witness a renewal of the great triumphs won by the Jesuits. On some of the missionary bishops sent to Asiatic countries by the Société des Missions Étrangères, the greatest foreign missionary society of the Roman Church, was bestowed the barren title of Vicars Apostolic of Japan.

2. Sidotti.-An Italian Jesuit, named Sidotti, who, as a youth, had become intensely interested in Japan, resolved that he would attempt to enter the country. Going to Manila, he spent some time in studying the Japanese language. At last, in 1709, he persuaded a captain to take him to the southern part of Kyushu, where he was set ashore by a small boat and then left alone—one man against a nation. He was soon discovered, and, though his pronunciation was very imperfect, managed to hold some slight communication with the officers who arrested him. He was finally taken to Yedo, where he was put under the care of an official, who closely questioned him concerning foreign lands and his object in coming to Japan. In one of the buildings connected with his place. of confinement lived an old man and woman who had long before been arrested as Christians and had recanted. Sidotti had the joy of leading them to a renewal of their

faith; but, though he lived on as a prisoner for many years, probably dying a natural death, there is nothing to show that there were other visible results of his selfsacrificing devotion.

3. Missionaries in Loochoo.-The interest of Roman Catholics was freshly aroused in 1831, when twenty Japanese sailors, wrecked on the shores of the Philippine Islands, were found to have in their possession Christian medals, which they regarded with great reverence, saying that they had been handed down to them from their ancestors. Not far from this time partially successful attempts were made to send catechists to Japan, but it is not known whether they were able to accomplish anything. In 1844 a naval vessel of France, which, like other European nations, was seeking a way to open Japan, carried to Loochoo a priest named M. Forcade and a native catechist. Negotiations were opened with the King, who permitted them to remain. They were, however, kept under constant surveillance. "I was barely allowed,' wrote M. Forcade, "to take a little exercise on the sand or mud by the seashore, and even then I might not go alone. I was surrounded by the inevitable mandarins, preceded by satellites armed with bamboos to strike the poor people and drive off any passers-by, which was naturally calculated to render me an object of odium." The Japanese Government, which claimed authority over Loochoo, demanded that the missionaries be put to death, and it is said to be largely owing to the representations of the Dutch resident at Nagasaki that they were unmolested. Other priests joined them, and, to some extent, they were less hampered, "but, as regards evangelical work, all they could possibly achieve was to baptize a few babies at the point of death and also a few old people."

B. AMONG PROTESTANTS.-I. Contributions for Work in Japan.-Protestants were not unmindful of the distant land. One act of faith on the part of Christians is worthy of record. About the year 1827 a Christian merchant, residing in Brookline, Mass., invited a few friends to meet at his house that they might pray for the conversion of the world. At the first meeting, when it was proposed that a contribution be made, the question arose about how the money should be used. On the table was a Japanese

basket that had been brought from the East by one of the merchant's ships. Taking it in his hand, he proposed that they contribute money for missionary work in Japan. The proposal, which seems strange when we remember what was then the condition of Japan, was adopted. In a few years over $600 had been collected, and by the time the American Board commenced its work in Japan this money, which had been committed to its care, amounted, with accrued interest, to over $4,000.

2. Dr. Bettelheim in Loochoo.-The kindly treatment accorded by the Loochooans to sailors visiting their islands led certain officers of the British navy to feel such an interest in their behalf that they formed among themselves a missionary society for the purpose of sending the Gospel to Loochoo. Dr. Bettelheim, a converted Jew, a physician, reached the Islands in 1846. He met with opposition similar to that encountered by the French priests. Though at first the people gathered about him and gladly received his tracts, the officers caused the latter to be gathered up and returned to him. After awhile they compelled people to leave the streets through which he passed, and to shut up their houses so as to prevent his entrance. At least three persons are said to have been baptized by him, notwithstanding the difficulties under which he labored.

3. Translation of the Scriptures.-Though the living preacher was excluded from Japan, it was hoped that some way might be found for the entrance of the printed Word. Through the knowledge of the language obtained by the Dutch merchants and from shipwrecked sailors, something could be learned that made it possible to prepare very imperfect translations of portions of the Bible. Dr. S. Wells Williams says of some of the Japanese who were brought back to Macao after the unsuccessful expedition of the Morrison: "Two remained with Mr. Gützlaff for many years, and two worked in my printing office at Macao. These four aided us in getting some knowledge of their language, so that between us the books of Genesis and Matthew, and the Gospel and Epistles of John were done into Japanese for their instruction." Dr. Bettelheim also attempted similar work, and some of it was printed.

4. The American Expedition.Though Commodore