The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-03-17
LETTER FROM JAPAN.
BY REV. =. nRorE,
KocnI. z q - Z,

Kocnl, 9 sa. Is, 1888.
TO The Sporfdt6.r ian, ChureA.
Sparfan6ur6 ><3ss Z
DeAR DRm IsvS posf frob .d
whiting To- Iltiy tecauss 1 hoped 10
+ become y acquainted with The customs
ana <fs OF this people, and partly for
the resson that was wal ipg to reach nv
fual dsstination.
We landed At Yokohama on the morning
efN.v. 9th, and were delayed o month and
half wsiting for passports to our present
IL may not be amiss to tell you something
OF the trials Of q foreigner in obtaiuing a
passport. The japanese Government does
not a'lsw US TO G. beyond the Treaty Posts,
and II one wishes to live in other parts of
tho Empire, application must be made
through some local school-board to teach for
!. ceitain lerg'h of time in the city In which
enc proposes to. live. In my own case per-
mission was gained through the trustees of
The kochi Bible school to reside in this city
for specified time as shisho. l expect TO
teach for a certain number of hours day
10 fulfil the the terms of my passport, aud
am also engaged in the study of the language
in preparation for missionary labors.
The city 10 which We are living has O pop
ulation OF about fifty thousand, 1 suppose.
and 10 the capital OF one Of the Southwest
provinces. 1t is noted especially for its
beautiful bay, and its ancient castle, the
sironghold Of one of the Doimyos or terrific
rial lords Of feudal Japan. Scared on the
top OF terraced eminc,oe and u.rounded
by massive stone walls, rising one above
another, with the city and outlying villages
NJ our feet, it is indeed "besafiful for situ-
stion. cannot say that The city itself is
80 beautiful, q. the houses arc too low and
too much in need of paint, to suit the taste
Of q wrsterner, Within, however,, many Of
them are very artistic and beautiful.
The people are very fond Of flowers Z; and
In the grounds of every important house is
4 miniature park with its pond, aud beuu
tif9l fish, and well-trimmcd shrubbery.
The country, in general, too, is beau. ifu!
ffSm almost every point Of vie Y; its snow
capped mountains, its water falls, its rivers
and streams, literally clear as crystal, its
vine clad rocks and boulders, its bays and
Its broad, fertile and well-cul,ivated valleys,
form picture of marvellous beauty.
1t 10 neeiless for mo to say that the
Jspaness arc very polite and ceremonious.
II two gentlemen, fol. inst ance, meet on the
streets, they will form q right angle at the
middle OF the body, remaining in this posi-
iion several sccon ls, and repeating the bow
several times, II fthey.meet in 3 house, the
htSd must Be brought TO- the floor two or
y
The CHILDREN are trained in habits of cere-
monious salutstion from childh.o /, and We
are often greeted with the words, kon-ni-
,ehi-wa, aud d most eracaf,,I 90 !i1lzA
DOW, from the little ones around the d, or, of
our mouse, aud on The. streets, -. kEt
,FsIhSps } yoN would he Interested n the
description Of the Kind of houses we live in
Ihe pictures sent you Will give you avery
correct idpa Of their interior parts.
une can have many or few rooms in a
Japanese house, as The preference NAV be-
since the rooms are diviLed by sliding par
an"ns. They are used as doors, and are
often covered with beautiful papsra. md
are easily managrd. Many Of tho houses
here are surrounded by massive stone walls,
aud mo.t imposing g,teways at the entrance. !.
The exterior OF The house consists princi-
pally Of sliding wooden doors which are
closed at night, aod lin q Japanese house)
in rH!4y weather. Ye have in our house
glass sliding doors within these outer ones,
which give us plenty OF sunlight, and make
the house cheerful even on . dark day.
have not been able TO do eyangelistio
work, as 1. could not speak the language.
have. s=sssle, however,, In company with
ether missionaries, several trips to some Of
the numerous adjacent towns aud VILLAGES.
Our journeys are made over the very best
macadamized roads, in jinrikishas. The
name means 'man-power vehicle that is,
vehicle pulled bY man or, as one has
Wittily rsiaarked, q "Pull-man car"
One Of these trips was made to attend a
Christmas celebration by the Christians in
one of these t,wns. II was both o festive
and religiaus observance Of that season.
We frs, had the religious exercises appro-
pirate to the occasion, followed by the Tsci.
tations Of verses from tile scriptures, and
postiosl selections relating TO- t6e Birth Of
Christ, The celebration closed with games
In which all heartily Joined.
The scene was both impressive and full of
Joy 10 Us, as VIC thought or the rapid advances
these people had made from the darkness
Of hssthenism into the glorious light Of the
Gospel Of Christ. The exercises were the
more Impressive from the fact that they were
held under the shadow Of q heather temple.
Our attsation was called to the fact that
celebration was alss going on within the
temple. As wo passed by one night we
heard the beating of drums and saw the
flashing Of lights, and, on euquiring as to
what was b ing done, were told that the
priests were celebrating in this way the
return Of the gods who hal been away on a
visit 70 q neighboriDg island.
Thus you see the battle is still being
waged here between darkness and light
hsathsuism aud christianity. We are not
arful, however, as to the result. Every
thing p,ints 10 the complete triumph of
christianity. May God hasten the day.
Yours in Christ,