JAPAN
310
JAPAN
anese Government the grant of a special territory as a
branch of the Russian legation, which territory was
located at Surugadai in the very centre of Tokio and
one of the most advantageous sites of the capital.
Here Father Nicolai established his residence and the
centre of the Orthodox Church. He began by training
well-instructed men and native assistants, for which
purpose he had an ordinary college and a school of
philosophy and theology; later on he also had a special
school for young women. He preached his religion by
means of carefully trained catechists and priests.
Since 1881 he has also had a religious review, pub-
lished twice monthly, and a publication committee
installed in his house has edited all the most necessary
books. In 1886 Father Nicolai was consecrated bishop
in Russia and in 1890 he completed the erection of his
cathedral, a truly magnificent monument, one of the
sights of the capital.
Bishop Nicolai enjoys great personal esteem; for the most part alone, he has founded and governed by him-
self everything pertaining to his mission. During the
Russo-Japanese war the situation was very delicate,
but the Christians, at least the greater number of
them, did not abandon him. Even during this time
he continued all his undertakings unmolested, his
house being guarded without by Japanese soldiers.
Previously he received from the Holy Synod 95,000
yen yearly, but since the Russo-Japanese war, these
and other resources from Russia have greatly dimin-
ished, while on the other hand the price of everything
in Japan has increased. The bishop was therefore
compelled to diminish al.so his expenses, to dismiss a
part of his staff, and to exhort the Christians to con-
tribute more generously to the support of their Church.
But after the victories of the Japanese over the Rus-
sian armies it is not easy to conceive of even Japanese,
though Christians, as members of a church hitherto
supported and protected by the Russian Government.
That is why the leaders among these Christians, after
having agreed among themselves, declared to " Arch-
bishop " Nicolai their intention of being supported en-
tirely by themselves and of becoming independent of
Russia. And as Russia has its national church they
wished to have also their Japanese National Church
(June, 1909). Little has been written concerning the
work of the Russians in Japan; even in Russia almost
nothing has been published. According to one Prot-
estant reckoning, the Orthodox Church numbers 30,-
16f) baptized Christians; according to another, only
13,000 (the last figure perhaps denotes those who are
practical). There are 37 native priests and 129 cate-
chists. Expenses for church and evangelization in
1907 amounted to ,55,279 yen; contributiims of Cliris-
tians, 10,711 yen. Churches or places of preaching.
265. Among the Russians, as among Protestants,
and, in fact, everywhere throughout Japan, the ten-
dency of mind is towards independence.
Fr.\ncois Lignedl.
Laws Concerning Religion and Srhools.^{l) Accord- ing to the Constitution of the empire every Japanese is free to believe and to profess the religion he pre- fers, provided he does not disturb public order, and that he observes the other laws of the country. Re- ligious manifestations and a.ssemblies, ordinary or ex- traordinary are permitted, provided the police are informed and that all disorder be avoided. In the na- tional ceremonies where Christians and pagans mingle, practical difficulties sometimes arise which are inevi- table because of the mixture of religions. Local differ- ences also occur, though somewhat rarely, owing to popular prejudice or the dispositions of a few, but in principle and before the law all religions are equal.
(2) Any Japanese or foreigner is free to found a school, provided he observes the laws and regulations laid down by the Japanese Board of Education con- cerning hygiene, qualifications of teachers, matter to be taught, etc. There are official schools for popular education, such as the primary and middle or high schools for boys and girls {shogakko, chugakko, and Koto-jogakko) , and non-official or private schools, which may also be primary or others at choice. But the diplomas issued by private schools have no official value, at least no value equal to that of schools which are formally recognized by the ministers of public in- str\iction. A school for which this recognition is de- sired must conform to the same regulations and con- trol as the government schools and be in no way in- ferior to them. Public inspection regularly takes place only in official or recognized schools.
(3) In the so-called schools of "popular educa- tion", which are official or recognized, no religion is taught during hours of class. All religions are free, none is imposed. In private unrecognized schools re- ligious instruction is permitted during hours of class. Each school may profess its own. However, popular instruction in Japan is not atheistic; it gives as the basis for private and social morality primitive history or Japanese mythology, which assigns the origin of all things to the gods or ancestors of the country. But higher education in general inclines strongly towards materialism.
(4) For the possession and administration of their goods, churches and schools may, if they so desire, cause themselves to be recognized as juridical persons, and as such possess movable and immovable prop- erty. On this point Christian communities or estab- lishments are subject to the same laws as the others. Each juridical person is represented by a responsible council who sends to the Government an inventory of the goods, the annual accounts of administration, the amomit of purchases or sales, the condition of the staff, if it be a mission, the number of priests and faithful, if a school, that of masters and students, the precise lo- cation of churches and residences, the name of the titulars, and their changes, if there are any. Churches, benevolent foundations, etc., are dependent on the ministry of the interior; schools, on the ministry of public instruction. The aim of this legislation with these regulations is to place the j uridical persons under the protection of the law.
Taxes. — Schools pay no taxes. Churches and all houses serving as residences for those attached to these churches (priest's house, that of the catechists, that of the servants, etc.) are also exempt from tax- ation. These enjoy all the privileges granted to the pagan temples; houses of revenue, if there are any, are subject to the common law and pay the tax.
Dai/s of Rest. — Schools, government employes, and bank employ^ are free from Saturday (noon) until Monday. This custom has been introduced since the
