164 Japan and the Japanese, 
shadowiness and conventionality of much of what is called 
belief, for if righteous and humane men and women were 
truly convinced that these people, without Christianity, are 
doomed to perish everlastingly, it would be more than a few 
prayers, pounds, and shillings, which would be spent upon 
their conversion ; and numbers would come forward at their 
own cost, to save their brothers from a doom, which, in 
an individual instance, no one can contemplate without 
unspeakable horror." 
It is singular that, although by diplomatic and com- 
mercial treaties, England opened the door of Japan, 
America entered in first, bearing the Gospel. Lord Elgin's 
treaty of 1858, secured toleration for the foreigner, in 
certain specified cities ; and American Missionary Societies, 
seized the golden opportunity. Even before this, American 
missionaries had forced themselves into the ports,- for 
gentlemen belonging to the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
the Presbyterian Board, and the Dutch Reformed Church, 
were secretly labouring among the people, striving to sow 
the seed of the kingdom. Some of these had been in the* 
field from 1850, although using much precaution, and at 
times fulfilling other duties than those of Christian mis- 
sionaries. But very little could, however, be done in this 
secret way, for the spread of Christianity. Had the 
Americans preached or taught publicly, they would at least 
have been visited with instant expulsion. The Japanese 
Government frequently sent spies to visit the foreign 
residents, instructing them to make friends with these 
intruders, so as the more readily to discover their real 
opinions and aims. The officials felt certain that these non- 
trading foreigners had some religious purpose in coming to 
Japan, but, failing to discover it, treated them with suspicious 
dislike. In consequence, but little could be done in the 
