The early inhabitants of Japan are supposed to be the Ainos, a race now almost extinguished. The few that are left live in Yezo, the northernmost island of Japan. Many sailors from the islands of the Malayan Archipelago were washed upon the shores of Japan and soon mixed in with the Ainos. They gradually became stronger and stronger and, finally, the children of the mixed races conquered the entire land. The Japanese retained their early nature-worship, which is called Shinto, or Kami-no-michi, the “way of the gods,” until Buddhism came in to disturb its hold upon the people’s hearts. Buddhism entered Japan in 552 after Christ. MOHAMMEDANISM. About five hundred years after Christianity was established, it had degenerated in most parts of Arabia and Syria into a system for the worship of saints and relics. The people of Arabia were given from the earliest times to idolatry. Mohammed was born 570 A.D. He built upon the ruins of Judaism, Christianity and the Arabian idolatrous worship, the system called Mohammedanism. His motto was (and it contains the sum and substance of his teachings) “There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his prophet.” He began a vigorous crusade against idols and relic-worship. At first he sought to extend his system by teaching only, afterwards he used the sword. From Arabia his religion spread to Turkey, to India, to Egypt and Africa, and even to China. CHRISTIANITY’S CONQUESTS. Christianity is _the_ religion for the world. It is infinitely superior to all religions of either past or present. It was intended to be the world-religion. Its founder, Jesus Christ, designed that it should be spread over the whole world, and gave His disciples their marching-orders before He left them at His ascension. They were bidden to go into all the world and preach His gospel to every creature. They were assured of His assistance and of final success. Without any of the power of pomp or wealth, or wisdom, or numbers, the little band undertook to obey their orders. They have spread from land to land, until their camp-fires have been kindled almost all around the globe. Their triumphs have been gained by the powers of persuasion. Their past history is grand, their present outlook glorious, and their future prospects full of assurance. Now let us take up more in detail these various systems. Retracing the roads we have hurried over let us start afresh and proceed more leisurely to study the religious life of mankind, and especially as it is associated with false gods and idols. [Illustration: