Great Construction

Renewing Newspaper Publication

     The unavoidable suspension of the publication of this newspaper since Issue 65 on June 3, 1950, is well known. What also occurred was that on May 8, the editor in chief of this newspaper, Motokichi Inoue was taken into custody by the Shizuoka Prefectural Prosecutors Office on suspicion of tax fraud. Subsequently, on May 29, I as well met the same fate. Neither Inoue nor myself have done anything that involves illegalities, and these arrests could only have resulted from a lack of a thorough investigation. It need not be emphasized that the time will come when the true facts of our situation will be understood. From olden times, persecution has gone hand in hand with religion, and the fact that such difficulties do happen from time to time could possibly be due in part to our inadequacies. I also believe this incident has been nothing other than God’s profound blessing to polish our souls. What illustrates this better than anything is the saying which has been around for a long time that the greater the mission, the greater the suffering.
     I was in detention for twenty-two days until my release on June 19, and then a week later the Korean War broke out. At present, the conflict is limited to one region, but it can be said that this conflict is a prelude to a warming up of the Cold War between the world’s two major powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. These events are of course the first sign of the global purification, what could also be called a preview of the last judgment. Every time we observe these events, we cannot but be aware that the time for us to go on stage for our global salvation activities is approaching hour by hour.
     Today’s newspaper carried an article concerning Colonel Imboden which I thought had a very interesting viewpoint. The major is quoted as saying that in whatever nation-state, there will either be evil or there will be good. There is no such thing as a neutral nation. Therefore, at this time it should be decided which side to be on. I think these are indeed thrilling words, but these words apply not only to one nation-state but to all in society. Religion not excepted. What is different about religion, however, is that what is done thinking to be right is, often seen by results, to be evil. This is a point for which those involved in religion do need to be vigilant. The same applies to the law as well. While I was being interrogated on suspicion of the crime referred to above, I had a thought: when a law designed to create good goes too far, it instead becomes evil.
     As for this newspaper, the name heretofore used, Kyūsei (World Salvation), has been changed to Eikō (Glory), and we have strengthened our resolve to exert ever increasing diligence to advance and fulfill God’s divine goal of global salvation.
     What I want to say here, and this is something my followers probably already know, is that as of this incident, World Messianity has in all respects undergone organizational reform. I have withdrawn from my position as Spiritual Leader of World Messianity, and from now on will devote myself entirely to ministerial work. This change is of course in accordance with God’s Intention. Unknowable at the level of human thinking, something we always experience is that as time passes, we learn that these happenings are a part of profound divine economy.

Eikō, Issue 66, page 1, August 23, 1950
translated by cynndd

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“Honshi Saikan ni Tsuite,” published on the front page of Eikō, Issue 66, August 23, 1950, was never anthologized while Meishu-sama was alive, and as far as is known, has never been published in translation.