Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 243, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1917 — HAS NEW RELIGION [ARTICLE]

HAS NEW RELIGION

Japanese Millionaire Becomes a Christian Convert. Creates a Sensation by Seeking Baptism at the Hands of Koji, a Reformed Convict. The Morimura Gumi, one of the largest and oldest Japanese export houses ■of porcelain and curios, is especially well known in the United States. Its head, Baron Ichizayemon Morimura, has for many years been a propagandist of temperance and undenom- . inational Christianity. Like Mr. Dwight L. Moody in America, he and several assistants have traveled about Japan, preaching to the people. He is ong of the earnest supporters of the joint church movement in Japan. A sensation was created recently, says a New York correspondent, when the baron sought baptism at the hands of Yoshltaro Koji, a reformed convict —a perfect prototype of the late Jerry McAuley of New York, founder of the Oliver street and Cremorne missions. Mr. Koji is an Interesting personality. He was raised among criminals, and served 23 years in prison, where he earnestly studied .Christianity and became converted. When liberated several years ago, he at once set out as •a religious teacher, going among all -classes of society—never obtruding his personal views, but chiefly 'exhorting to morality, self-sacrifice and humility. He did not preach the doctrine of any particular denomination, but based his creed upon Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount” and the “Lord’s Prayer.” He never has been recognized by the Christian missionaries in Japan, although many of them have shown him respect. He hasn’t any church of his own, but visits people to whom he is introduced, gains their friendship, and teaches them the broadest features of Christianity. He makes no distinction between Catholic and Protestant. He has much respect for true believers and practitioners of the .Mohammedan faith, especially extolling their temperate habits. He visited Korea and Manchuria and walked thousands of miles among the villages far off the beaten tracks and railways. Baron Morimura has for several years shown peculiar interest in the personality of this humble Christian, nnd recently asked Exhorter Koji to baptize him. Other members of the Morimura family are Protestant church members. The baron has organized a society to improve the moral standard of the younger Japanese generation, giving SIOO,OOO to start the movement and putting at its head Viscount Dr. Inajiro Tajlrl, a famous scholar. He Is opposed to all charities under government or. municipal direction.