The morning call., 1892-09-02
PRAYING IN THE HILLS.
Religion Takes Root Among
Our. Japanese.
THEY ARE A SOLEMN SET.
Many of Them Go Cut Into the Byways to
Invoke Divine Aid for Their Way g.
ward Countrymen.
THEY. ARE A SOLEMN SET.
Religion strikes deep when it hits Jap

Religion strikes deep when it hits jap
anese.
Wholesale conversions to Christianity
have been made of late among the large
colony of the Mfkado's people IN this city. .
"They have been gathering in tile ks
and crannies and quarries outside the city"
said Rev. VIC. Pond yesterday. ''praYing
for their countrymen. f. 4.
=. 'tThe very caverns have been yociferant
|. with their cries, songs and prayers.
at has been a repetltio OF the preaching
In the catacombs at R0m6.. :. =.
"a widespread revival has thus been
progressing among them, which rivals in:
point of numbers the early triumphs OF
Christianity, and meanwhile the American
Christians and j also have been ignorant Of
their blessing" :"
: One enters the japanese Methodist Epis.
'copal Mission. back of Central Methodist
Episcopal Church. into a reading-ro0m
/ " hich reveals its foreign occupancy by some
Japan paper covered with hen tracks.
+ The Japanese assistant TO this Methodist
Mission lives two doors away. .::.
Rev. L. Matsuda stated that the christian
ling OF his countrymen has progressed nat
urally and without excitement.
1t has been the result OF preaching SER
vices at the Sailors Home, the Washington
street branch church and the many Japa-
nese boarding houses, and yet more through
personal work by conversation.
"Do you reach them through the intellect
or the heart ?" WAS asked -. -.
"a man cannot become a Christian
through the intellect, it must be of the
heart" and yet the Japanese pastor ac-
knowledged that he himself was. first
brought into christianity through his in
telect. -: -.
Il read the life of George Washington -
he declared, 'and then imagined God in my
brain. ~:
81 suppose i was at first Unitarian
| Christian, and it was year and bali be-
fore | was convicted OF my sin and obtained
| salvation through Christ"
Are many Of the Japanese Unitarians ?'
Dir. Matsuda did not seem to think them
numerous. 49,:
A charming feature of this japanese re-
| vivai seems TO be the apparent literalnesS
| and simplicity in which the Japanese are
| adopting Christianity.
| Mr. Matsuda described the art Of winning
] Christians through conversation. We
| first ask them if they feel conviction Of
! sin"
what DO you do if they answer no 2"
| u can do nothing"
Native japanese seem sometimes to lack
/ the conviction OF sin.
..tNext." said Mr.. Matsuda. 1--WE tell them
| of Christ, who died for sinners, and lastly we
!, lead them to salvation. Sin and salvation
is the shibboleth for making Japanese
| Christian"
| The young assistant said tnat the Japan
csc were great reasoners. They love the
study OF theology and philosophy. They
| became versed in Bible knowledge and doc
trine.: They. are thus susceptible to Christi
anity. : ~..r
Away in the heights is the climax sought
\ to Wit, their Christian perfection, the CON-
| plete cleansing OF their lives. They are
| struggling and attaining unto it where they
| are TO find perfect life through perfect love.
/ !: The Rev. NJ. c.. Harris tod how the JAP
| anese, in groups of twoand three, retire to
| the hills aud spend the night il prayer fol
| their c0antrymeH.
| This awakening of the japanese young
men is the result of such nestness..
| - He thought thatthe proportion OF Japan.
ese that are Christians in this city is about
| one 70 four,
:. TIE Rev. W. W. Case. pastor of the Cen
trail Methodist Episcopal Church, considers
that the work is really remarkable.
| "The Japanese rent the property back o.
l.our church building" said he. They have
been considerably stirred up Five hundred
have become Christians.
! n think. that majority of the Japanese
| of this city have accepted Christianity"
l Rev. G.:S 1shikawa Is the recently APP
pOinted secretaryto the Presbyterian JAP
an6se combination church and Young Mems
CHRISTIAN Association at 121 Haight street
l The mission moved August 2 into its new
i headquarters, which cost $4,000
+: The: foreigners enjoy here a reading
rooin::. day: and night schools. literary
T. societies, club life, boarding-hou and
,sleepzin tasty hall rooms upstairs. ::r'a'
H.. They are ever ready to help fe' low.
couhtrymab find job. The work with The
| Presbyterians$has: been quiet. progressive
and prosperous. The: young leaders. are
j DESTROYS of supplying the natural: religion:
wants ofthe people. The Hon. K, kalo
member of the japanese Parliament, now In
this city on "a diplomatic mission from tht
+ Japanese Government TO this nation. praise:
i the thoroughness with which the Japa6ess
i Christian work is carried ON in San Fran
I cisco.
+ This Presbyterian Mission Is well patron.
i ICED. = TIE reading-raom is. doubtless &
| favorite: apartment. Here the natives rea(
American: periodicals and think of home
and. dream of the girl theyleft behind then
| as:they peruse: the K0sm0s and female edu
cation. m0nthlies. or their familiar daily
press 1.-the. 'Mainfchi, Jill. the Nation!
! Friend, :HOehi. or the: Japan Mall of Toxic