20th May. Tie Chinese and Japanese Buddhists have both had their schools of native growth, The Japanese Buddhists have learned more from China than they have excogitated for themselves and it will probably be found that for real thinking in the Buddhist field they are as much indebted to China as the Chinese are to the Hindus. 'The Chinese intellect is cool, self-consistent, and self-possessed. 'That of Japan is ardent and somewhat shallow. _Consequently Christian philosophy' will conquer Japanese Buddhism more easily than that of China, Meantime it is interesting to watch the progress of religions thought among the Japanese and to note that now when they ac-Buddhism of these ultra-Oriental aire foreign languages the practical
countries finds a tongue in the speech of Paris and London which it never did before. Now and again Buddhists return the honour of missionary visits paid to them in China and. Japan by return visits in the capitals of the west.
"One day that I was at work," says a recent French author writing in Paris, "my good waitress announced to me an extraordinary visit. 'Monsieur,' she said to me, almost breathless with asto-rushment, ' several cures have come, but not like other curs, and wish to speak to you" Several cures! I was not expecting such an honour. I gave orders to show my visitors. in, Five Japanese were then introduced into my cabinet and among them three Buddhist priests who had judged that it would be best to announce themselves under the title of cure.
"One of them explained that they had been sent to Europe by the Tokio government in order to study the different religions of the west, and arrive at an opinion as to what religious transformations it would be best to carry into effect in Japan.
"One of the three priests was well trained in Chinese literature and was initiated into the knowledge of Sanscrit and Buddhist works composed in that language. He had received from foreigners resident in Japan information more or less exact on a multitude of western sects, religious and philosophic. Sects the most radical in their opinions seemed to interest him the most. He spoke to me in succession and' regardless of order of Calvin, of Swedenborg, of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.