For
centuries the name 'Christian' would blanch the cheek and pale the lip.
Christianity was remembered only as an awful scar on the national annals.
But in the Southern Island the smouldering fire was never quite
extinguished; while, as recently as 1829, six men and an old woman were
crucified at Osaka."(31)

At the time of the closing of the country to foreigners, an exception was
made of the one port of Nagasaki, the scene of the final great massacre,
when thousands of native Christians were hurled from a rocky islet into
the sea. Here, however, as has been already mentioned, the Dutch were the
only Europeans permitted to trade; they being closely confined to the
small island of Deshima. In addition to having pay a heavy rental, they
were subjected to the closest espionage, not being suffered, under any
circumstances, to pass beyond the narrow limits assigned to them. Several
times in each year they were summoned before the authorities, and required
to tread under foot the Crucifix, and other symbols of the Catholic Faith.
Several of the trampling-boards employed on these occasions are still to
be seen at the Ueno Museum, Tokio. The Dutch, it would appear, quieted any
qualms of conscience by regarding their action as amounting to an
abnegation, not of Christianity, but of Romanism. It was not until thirty
years ago that intercourse between Japan and other nations began to be
resumed; and that, after a short period of ill-feeling and suspicion,
circumstances were brought about which enabled both Roman Catholics and
other Christians to work without hindrance. In 1872 the interdict against
Christianity was formally removed; and the release from imprisonment and
return from banishment of hundreds of Christians took place.

Such is the past history of Christianity in Japan. It has, indeed, its
elements of glorious and heroic martyrdom, but it has elements, also, on
which few of us can look back without a deep sense of shame. Let us trust
that by this time the people of Japan have come to understand that the
conflict of their forefathers was not with Christianity, but rather with
Christians who had forgotten "what spirit they were of."

Turning now to the condition of Christian Missions at the present day, it
seems right to commence with those of the Roman Church. Not only has the
Roman Church in Japan a history which extends over three hundred years,
but it reckons at the present time considerably more than double the