The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-01
AMONG JAPANESE.
Bishop Foster Returns
From His Tour.
Provincial Authorities Show a Laxitv
in Restraining Rioters From
Threatening Missions.

In the early spring of the year that has
just ended Bishop L. S. Foster of Boston,
DR.. a. B. Leonard, cores p0nding secre-
tary Of the Methodist Episcopal Foreign
Missionary Society, and Mrs. Kean of
Philadelphia, corresponding secretary of
the Women's Foreign Missionary Society.
were deputed to visit the various stations
under the jurisdiction of the society. On
the 23d of May the little band sailed for
Japan. and after visiting the various fields
of missionary labor returned by the Gaelic
to this eoubtry.
Bishop Foster and party are, during
their stay in the city, the guests of Bishop
Goodsell on Buchanan street. Last even
ing DR.. Leonard, while coHversing with a
CALL reporter. spoke most encouraglngly
regarding missionary work in the eastern:
countries visited.
1--WE first went to Japan" the reverend
gentleman began. 'and while there visited
all the most important points between
Hakadadi and Nagasaki. In July we
attended the annual conference held at
Toxic. at which there we're sixty men,
berS, of whom forty were natives. Our
society has two educational institutions
one at Toxic and the other at Nagasaki
One of the purposes Of these institutions
is to educate the native teachers in such a
thorough manner that there may be no
necessity for their coming to America"
The Methodist Episcopal Society first
gained Tooth old IN Japan in 1872, when,
of course, its membership was zero. Now
there are scattered throughout the kingdom
1000 communicates, and the outlook is
most encouraging. The anti-fOreign feel
ing that began to make itself felt about
five years ago. is generally regarded as
having now spent its force. and the coun-
try IS less disturbed by political conditions
than for years past"
1--WE left Yokohama in August for Korea.
Our society was established at Seoul
eight years ago, and since that time
Wau-su. Ping and Shawmel-po have
also become centers of missionary activity.
AT the annual meeting of the missions
somewhat similar to cOnference-there
were twenty-five teachers present repre-
sentlpg a membership OF about go AL
though mission work is not officially recog-
niZed, or indeed supposed to exist-that Is
to the Government O1icially-such work is
not only tolerated but encouraged. The
King mas IN many ways been most eonsid-
crate, and he himself gave a name to oae
of our schools and an hospital.
I'VE have need to be especially thankful
Tor the success already attained in Korea.
for larger mem bership has not been
than has crowned our efforts.
China was the last, the largest and
from its very immensely the most i'm
pOrtant field of work we visited, The
society's main station is at Peking. and at
the conference at which we were present
thirty-flve ministers were present from
that district, representing 1000 commune
cants.
I'm the central provinces there have
been established several stations along the
4ang-tse-kiaDg, and among them may be
mum bered 600 members of our church. At
FOoch0w, the headquarters for the third
division OF the empire, most important
work is being carried on. Seventy min
listers attended the conference. represent
ing membership of 5000 people. In all.
throughout China there are about Is, 900
names Oh the mem bership rolls, and that
alone is matter for congratulation.
The one cause of uneasiness is the
laxity of the local officials when riots
break out. Save at Canton and in the
province adjacent, whence the Chinese
are obtained that come to America it is
very doubtful ii single individual China
man knows that there ever was such
document as the Geary act. The local
and provincial authorities know il, how
ever, and when a riot breaks out and mis-
sionaries and mission property are threat
ened they simply say: Let the Americans
taste little OF their own medicine This
is the only direction from which trouble
can come, but from what we saw and heard
we have no reason to anticipate anything
of this kind.
I'VE have had ID many respects a de-
lighful trip, but we are glad to be once
again In America and thankful that we
have seen so much that is Of encourage
ment to all interested In mission work."