The Japanese are said to be great imitators, and there is fresh proof of it. Having learned that there are serious divisions among Christians in this country, they have also come to learn that many apologists for these divisions have devised an ingenious way of trying to make out that all divisions are but another form of unity. They have heard, perhaps, that Presbyterianism is one branch of the church, representing order; that Methodism is but another branch, representing zeal; that Episcopalianism is another, representing ceremonial; and Baptistism is another, representing devotion to ordinances; but that all are one happy and united band of brethren. Perhaps, also, they have heard this same unity in diversity represented by the figure of a great army moving in different divisions, but perfectly united under one great Commander. So, not being able to detect the fallacy in all this, they have adopted the idea and applied it to the fearful diversity of religions which exist in their own country; and it seems to me that they have made out near about as good a case as the aforesaid apologists have made for us. Here is the way it is stated, according to a report published in the Congregationalist:

      In a kind of parliament of religious (it would be called a union conference meeting in this country), there were present two Shintoists (worshipers of ancestors), eighteen Buddhists, [190] six Free Religionists and sixteen Christians. One of the Shintoists said: "Let us remember that we all represent important parts in the body of New Japan's religion--Buddhism the bones, Confucianism the flesh, Christianity the blood, and Shintoism the brains."

      There it is--the popular apology for the divisions condemned by Christ, in its newest and latest phase, reflected from the background of heathenism. It is a mixture which for vileness is equaled only by the ingredients of the witch's caldron in Macbeth:

[SEBC 190-191]