The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-19

OF reasoning DdSeo upoh q
of the conditions existing in Japan,
those who had in charge the launch
ing of the Japan Mission reached the
conclusion that the women OF japan
needed to have something done Tor
their salvation as we'll as the men.
They must have considered the need
of the women, however, much less
than that of the men, since one wom-
an worker was sent to cooperate
with two men workers. If 80, then
in one regard their Judgment was cor
rect, but in another regard it was at
fault. When considered in relation
to the actual state of their souls as
shown by their lives, the women OF
Japan. as is the case of the women
in most countries, stand in less need
of Christian instruction than the
men. But when viewed in relation
to the importance of her place IN
society and the influence she is able
to exert in the home and consequent
ly in the nation, there is scarcely any
work more important than that
among the women. The greater
need is on the part of the men, but
the Christian education of the wom-
en- is perhaps one of the best means
of making the Christian teaching
more effective among the men. 1t is
not to save the women alone that L
would educate the future mothers in
japan. but to save the people through
them.
T have not been in the habit OF
considering the women OF Japan as
relatively more unhappy in their
domestic relations than the women
of other countries. But it is proba-
BILE that this contentment springs
from mental limitations and I'M
questioning obedience to century
long custom rather than from the
fact that the conditions which sur
round her are all she ought to de-
mand. 1t is probable that she sell
dom Graves anything beyond the
privilege of treading the narrow
circle afforded by her ordinary house
hold cares. In this condition she is
not necessarily unhappy, for happi-
ness as commonly understood is
relative term. 1t results when the
desires do not exceed the means OF
satisfying them. Unhappiness results
when the desires outrun the the means
of satisfying them.
This contentment on the part of
the japanese women, SO far as it ex-
lists, is easily traceable to the philoso-
ply which the people have been
taught. The situation readily sug-
gests the oriental idea of woman.
The rules laid down by Confucius
for the regulation of the conduct OF
women are peculiarly severe, though
I suspect in some regards they call
forth a note of appreciation from
some who have been reared under a
different philosophy. But it is
poor philosophy which does not in
culcate some virtues, and there is no
doubt that the japanese woman is a
model housekeeper. To one who
likes to have the house tidy and in
order, the meals we'll cooked and the
buttons sewed on, there is something
charming in the extreme domesticity
of the Japanese women. One who
has witnessed their gentleness. the
ease of movement, their graces of
manner, and withal their great self
effacement cannot help being charm
ed, though he may not agree with Sir
Edwin Arnold in every respect. All
these things are to be counted in
favor of the japanese woman when
we search out her needs. Then we
may ask. What does she lack which
Christian teaching can give' If she
is a model housewife, and tender
mother, if she performs cheerfully
and willingly all the duties which
come to her in her domestic relations,
what more can be askeds What does
she lack7 The reply is. All this is
massive; the result of routine, and of
tradition, and does not spring from
living principle within her soul. To
me the greatest need of the Japanese
women is the awakening of her intel
lectual and spiritual faculties in such
a way as to cause her to take an
active part in behalf of humanity
against wrong and vice.. that she
shall be aroused to a sense of the re-
sponsibility which rests upon her as
a teacher in the home; that she shall
feel that owing to her peculiar posi-
ton in the home she has the power
to mould in no small degree the flu
ture of her people.