The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-09
A ERMON FROM THE JAP
NJ ctx,s an Interesting Talk About tho
Customs and Religions OF HIS Country
mud of His Own Conversion.

r Masao, a young Japanese graduate
Of Vanderbilt University. filed the pull
Dit al Centenary Methodist church yes
terday. and gave very interesting ae-
count of his conversion and experience
as n Christian in Japan. He VIII, In
few weeks sail for Japan and receive
appointment as a Methodist preacher.
He is small. like most of his race, ana
bas bright and intelligent countsnance.
He speaks with a peculiar accent "hich
counterbalances in interest the detrac-
ton OF the gutteral drawl that the
Asiatics speaking English all have al
times to more or less degree. lie look
as his text Romans. I. IL, Il am deo'or
both TO the Greeks and to the barbarians'
both TO the wise and the unwise.
In opening, the young japanese preach
er referred in feeling terms to an acci-
dent which happened in Centenary church
I'm 1854. when a farewell service was gwen
Rev. James VIM. Lambeth, one OF the
first Christian missionaries TO CHINA.
He said he had long had desire 10
see Centenary church, because II was tHe
sending ont Of James VIM. Lambeth on
that day many years ago that Haue
him Christian and brought him TO
this country; that when MT. Lambeth
was moved by the mission board from
the China to the japan feid. in 1881 that
ne was one OF the three first converts
made.
Tben taking I'D his text he made a
rntssionarv application of il. He refer
red TO the interest which now seemed
10 be taken in America In oriental rem
gions as a fashionable fad, when had
not even a good sentiment for It's JUS
tidcation. and said that If these people
had any intimate knowledge OF Bran
minism, Buddhism. or Confucianism
they would not advocate them
woMAN's SUBMISSION.
Said he. Coufucianlsm has only one
cardinal principle. 1t means the aDso-
lutte submission Of woman 10 man. A
girl TO her father to be disposed OF as
a horse or a COW; wife to her husband,
and a widow to her eldest son; and
should a woman have no male member
10 rule over her then one would have 70
be appointed. He described the lot OF
woman under COnfucian laws, as being
a very sad one, the girl being gwen
away TO any man the father may select
and once married never taken back UNI
der parental roof. the husband may, IN
der seven rules, which cover most any
misfortune that may oVertake her In
sickness or in health, divorce her; and
they oftener than otherwise take advan-
tage OF them to get rid Of her when
they become tired. The consequence
was. said he, that large numbers were
self-respect, bringing a long train Of evils
in its path, for said he. as the mothers
Of a country are. so will the country be.
Buddhism. said he. is no better. They
are Vegetarians. because they believe in
the Reconsideration Of souls, and that II
is defilement 10 eat any animal. Women
are looked on as animals without souls,
who can be saved only by the transmit
grafton of souls. and at some time be-
coming a man. To effect this they pray
constantly and deyoutly TO the Goddess
Of Mercy. n little woman idol. a figure
Of which Mr. Masao showed TO the con-
gregatioa. said he, there are in japan,
though a small country fifty million OF
women bowling down daily 10 this miser-
able little piece OF wood, trying 20 make
themselves acceptable to the goddess
that through transmlgrauon they may
become men and be saved Said he. il is
something 10 be a Christi1n i'm Japan.
you cannot be one in name only. you
must be one out and out In 1856 James
VIM. Lambeth did some pioneer mission
airy work I'm Japan. In the spring Of
1857, l had the honor of being one of
the first three converts under his work.
and to-day the Methodist Episcopal
Church. South, has between six and
seven hundred converts.
HIS OWN EXPERIENCE.
In order 10 illustrate the work and the
needs Of the field IN Japan. Mr. Masao
gave a history Of his own experience
Said he. "A few years ago / was n miser-
able heather AT a university in Japan. |
when Rev. Walter Lambeth. son of the |
missionary. James VIM Lambeth. came |
there 70 teach English I did not like 10 |
study English undcr a missionary, but he !
was employed by the Government. and |
| had 10 do SO. / determined TO get as |
much English out OF him as possible |
and TO have as little TO do with his |
Christianity as possible
one Sunday n friend came TO me and |
asked me to go to hear missionary |
preach, Offering as an .nducement that |
we could see near there n man syhO had |
just come from our own town. who |
could tell us all the news. When we |
went IN my teacher proved TO be the !
man who was preaching. He preached |
on the prodigal son. 1 thought | was |
the prodigal son and that he was |
preaching directly TO me. [ felt very |
sad and did not know what TO do. | |
did not want 10 go to see the man when |
church was out but wanted 10 90 TO nv |
room at school. Ny friend was a Chris |
tan and read the Bible 10 me and asked |
me TO pray. l had never prayed in NV |
life and did not know how. NV friend |
prayed and asked that / might repent |
or my sins. Repentance was a new word |
TO me and | did not know what 4 meant |
but wnon my friend was through |
found ! could pray. and though God mus, |
nave thought II a very awkward PRAYER |
Tor used very strange words. He for |
gave me my sins, and when I got nm |
was happy and at peace.
DIsINHERITED.
went TO Dr. Lambeth and no anoorr
aged me and strengthened me. and ,,as
baptized. When my father heard NJ :, |
ne dislhherited me. Two DAYS later a !
message came tina, he was extremely III |
ana went home. He called our faruv |
priest or Buddha, to his bedside and made |
MIN eXcommunicate me. and directed nv |
mother to continue his disinheritance Of |
ne. Vi
She was 4 deyout Ruddbfst ,,,o-. - |