Blue waters and green and the Far East today . that thepunishment of sin was inevitable, and extend to themthe pardon of Christianity, and it is bound to appealto them. The reason that our churches are not filled is thefact that we do not many of us have a sincere, pro-found belief in a future state. These people feel their condemnation for sin, they feel theemptiness of their religious rites and superstitions,and Christianity appeals to them. It follows that about these old temples hangs noneof the awe and uplift that a great English or Italiancathedral gives to even the most though
Blue waters and green and the Far East today . that thepunishment of sin was inevitable, and extend to themthe pardon of Christianity, and it is bound to appealto them. The reason that our churches are not filled is thefact that we do not many of us have a sincere, pro-found belief in a future state. These people feel their condemnation for sin, they feel theemptiness of their religious rites and superstitions,and Christianity appeals to them. It follows that about these old temples hangs noneof the awe and uplift that a great English or Italiancathedral gives to even the most thoughtless andirreverent. The bizarre decorations, the fantasticshrines, the monstrous gods of human handiwork,produce nothing but a feeling of curiosity. TheJapanese themselves wander through these fanes,deserted by worshippers, chattering and laughing,staring and commenting, but without an atom ofreligious feeling. It is just a show, like a fair with itsmerry-go-rounds and shoot the chutes. There is one place, however, where the thoughtful[282]. JAPAN. may well bare their heads and pause a while in thecontemplation of greatness brought low. On thehighest point of one of these great hills, reached bymany hundred stone steps, winding and zigzaggingbetween the giant cryptomeria guarded by heavilycarven stone balustrades, the work of a long-pastage and green now with centuries of moss, standsthe great bronze tomb of Ieyasu, the founder ofJapan. It stands behind a rather simple Buddhisttemple, the faith he professed, just a dome of the oldbronze with two storks guarding it in front. Noornament, no decoration, just the simple, sumptuousold bronze. From there you may look out across thegreen landscape far down the winding valley, to theJapan he loved and served. No tomb I have everseen, not even that of Napoleon, is more impressive. Itstrikes you by its very simplicity, the simplicity thatmarked his great character, for in all his life he soughtbut one end, the unity and prosperity of Ja
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