The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-04


cause, like the Quakers, we believe in
"a divine call" We believe God has
called us as He called Abraham TO go to
foreign countries. If God has called us
here to work for the people, He will use
us just so far as He may deem us SER
viceable. After we have obeyed God so
fully as we have known how to obey
Him, we have no occasion for fear. You
see our position, therefore. While we
have been physically much disturbed,
we have been trustful and reliant upon
the Being who formed the earth and the
universe, and who gives us by His mercy
life we prize by instinct. While we are
thus glad to be working here, even in
an uncertain existence, we would hope
that all our friends have the same con-
fidence in God. l do not record these
earth trembles to cause anxiety among
the supporters of missions. l would,
however, give you better conception of
the difficulties under which missionaries
labor, than some are willing to mention.
There is more to this story. In Kyoto
seven (0 chimneys were shaken down
from foreign houses. Fortunately none
of the missionaries were injured. A
firm that city. are said to have lost
$4,000 through the breakage of crockery.
In Osaka chimney fell into the house
of missionary and the family narrowly
escaped injury. In Nagoya and vicinity,
it seems the wave centered. In one
place several hundred houses were
thrown down and u confagration fol-
lowed. With present data l cannot
write more of the event. 1t is safe to
say that few lives were lost. When one
stands upon rolling surface there is
momentary sigh for terra firma When
we consider our comparative quiet how
ever, in view of the commotions on the
MOlucca Islands, of whose inhabitants it
is said they live in tents, abandoning
their houses through one season of each
year, we are glad that ''the lines fall to
us in such pleasant places" From all
this experience am led more than ever
to trust my God in whose hands are the
empires of earth. Yesterdays papers
from America mention earthquakes in
Illinois. Surely snugly settled as you
all seem, in the valleys of Vermont, yet
eved there God can lift the mountains
and fill up the plains. God having
formed the universe can change that
form. write this letter rather to help
than to terrify the readers of the Ben
nington BANNER. 1t seems wonder
that any in fair America should fail to
acknowledge Gods existence, 1t seems
almost inexplicable that any who have
known Christian history should fail to
believe in Christ. Why people who have
been in a Christian community all their
lives, should be unwilling to study
Christianity and accept it is marvel.
wish this letter might go as sort of
tidal wave from Japan, calling upon
men to confess God and Christ, and
render worship to the Source of every
good and perfect gilt. 1t is not so much
wonder that people who have worshipped
the sun for centuries and have not known
personal God, should be slow in com
ing into the Christian bondage of love to
God and love to man. But just as sure
as the fact that there are immortal souls,
is the fact that Gods eternal law for
those souls is love and its exercise. And
love, like unto the sacrificing love of
Jesus of Nazareth, is what will unite
earth's various peoples into peaceful
obediauce to the Heavenly Father, and
into fraternal compact, ending only ill
the songs and joys of the New Jerusalem.
Peace ON earth, good will to men, is the
maxim for the ultimate union into the
Kingdom without end. Hoping this let
ter may be of service, l am very sin
cerely, CLAUDE NJ. SEVERANCE.
And so the Cherokee strip is to