The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-24


Medical Work of the Japan Mission,
under the care of Rev. WALLACE TAy-
LoR, M. d., has been received by the
American Board also review of more
than score of years of similar work
in that country. Osaka is one of the
large cities of Japan, one of the three
imperial cities. Seven missionary So
cieties are represented there. The vol
ume OF medical missionary work is seen
in the fact that 42,64l consultations are
reported. From 1874 to 1894 there We're
2l5, ,565 consultations, 3244 surgical oper-
| ations and 10,5S6 visits to patients at
their homes. The work has been larger
the last year than in years previous.
and afforded greater and more varied
opportunities of doing good and reach
ing people hitherto influenced, and this
is as much as we could expec. in the
midst of the circumstances and times
through which the japanese have been
passing.
In reviewing the last 81 years DR..
TAYLOR says that during the time that
Japan and the people were reaching
out for things foreign and endeavoring
to avail themselves of the advantages
of them, teaching and schools were in
the ascendency as branches of mission
airy work, and the general missionary
had much to encourage him in the fa-
cilities allowed him and in tho success
and prosperity of his work, while medi-
cal work retired from the comparative
prominent place it had occupied and
was looked upon as one of the lesser
influences in the work. Medical mis-
sionary work in other missions was
given up, and the thought that it
might be just as we'll to much diminish
it, If not give it up altogether, was
largely entertained by our own mission
and by the board. But the adoption Of
limited elective franchise and the es-
tablishment of the Diet, whose members
are chosen by the electors of the people,
a nationalistic sentiment and patriotism
A'o bOth AtNANCu NLlOl 10 tHC
feature of public thought and feeling of
the times. A reaction has taken place:
not things foreign, but things essentially
japanese are in the ascendency; schools,
teaching, and general missionary work
have suffered reverses among us, diff
Guilty and hindrances are encountered in
prosecuting the general work, while the
medical work has well held its own and
is again in prominence as one of the
most effective aud successful branches
of missionary work.
The question is often asked: Are mis-
sionary physicians needed in Japan,
and is it desirable that others be sent
out9 While the physicians on the
ground, having an established reputa-
tion and are widely known, are doing
a large and much needed work, a work
that would De much missed were it to
cease, yet q new medical man would
find it difficult to establish reputation
and do much I'm a general way in the
present condition OF medical practice,
and the animus and sentiment OF the
people towards foreigners and things
foreign. Yet there is a large amount
of benevolent medical work that ought |
to be done. The number of sick |
poor who suffer and endure because
they connot meet the expense of |
even inferior medical treatmentis Is large
The Christian church in Japan has not
walked up to her duty, nor is she con-
,cious of her obligation to the sick poor
DR. the unfortunate. 1t is Christian
luty to alleviate suffering and mitigate
distress, to aid the poor and needy,
rom philanthropic principles, out
'ide of the thought that con-
gerts may be made thereby. The Chris
ian communities springing up here and
here have very imperfect ideas of what
heir duties and privileges are toward
he poor and needy or what is being
lone in Europe and America, and in all
civilized Christian countries, for the un-
ortunate classes.