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20
HONDA THE SAMURAI.
and its contents and inhabitants, and finally the
world and the starry heavens appeared as they are
now. That is, the matter came first and mind after-
wards. In this scheme of bald evolution creation
made the creator, and even the highest gods were
the children of the earth and sky.
With such religions, that know no supreme
Creator, could the Japan of 1852, even so full as
it was of bright and intelligent people, ever become
the equal of the nations of the West, whose fathers
were forest barbarians when the Land of the Rising
Sun had letters and literature ?
Before we enter into one. of the houses of Fukui,
let us stop under the shadow of the great gateway
and lofty bronze lantern at the bridge entrance and
read some of the laws hung up in a roofed timber
frame set on massive masonry.
LAW No. 1.
" Human beings must carefully practice the principles
of the five social relations. Charity must be
shown to widowers, widows, orphans, the childless,
and the sick. There must be no such crimes as
murder, arson, or robbery."
That is good, whether Confucian, Christian, or
Japanese. Now let us read
LAW No. 3.
"The corrrupt sect called Christian is strictly
prohibited. Persons suspected [of believing in
Christ] must be reported to the proper officers