The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-23

light of, but there should be courses
especially adapted to women, and book
study must be supplemented by much
and continued use OF the little already
gained. and especially should the mis-
sionary seek the society OF Japanese
women; go to call often at their homes,
sometimes with a companion that she
may learn polite customs by observa-
ton; often alone that she may learn not
to depend upon her interpreter. and that
she may learn to use what she has learned
from books and teacher. 1t is hard to
find time for this calling; it is not very
interesting at first, but if persistently
carried out, am sure it would add
|; greatly to the power of the missionary.
! We should be careful not to allow our
selves to be drawn into this, that and
the other work so that there is not time
for this mingling with the people. 1t is
not enough to ass 'ciate continually with
only few Japanese, for they soon learn
to understand our English Japanese,
which is no Japanese at all, and thus we
deceive ourselves into thinking that we
are progressing finely with the language.
Another thing which the woman mis-
sionary especially must strive after is
manner which shall be pleasing to our
Japanese sisters. We know what
power to please or repel there is in
persons manner. We have doubtless
seen in persons of another nationality
mannerisms which while perfectly prop.
er in themselves, amuse us greatly; for
example the giggling of Japanese girl.
There is nothing wrong in it but it is
annoying. Have we no mannerisms
which are as annoying, to our Japanese
sisters? Have we sharp. decided, alb.
rupt manner OF speaking which to
Japanese seems very unlady-like? Have
we way Of frowning, of raising the
voice and showing impotence over
trifles, which in Japanese would be
sign of extreme ill temper? have seen
the work OF an earnest. consecrated. de-
voted worker ruined by manuerisms un.
pleasant to the Japanese. The woman
missionary ought go far as possible 10
conform to the ways of Japanese women
that she may increase her influence over
them.
That the methods of work for women
differ from the methods of work for men
is matter of course. l firmly believe
that woman's most effective work is
the quiet hand to hand, heart to heart
work for which she can have no end of
opportunity in her daily calls Public
speaking should be left to the men and
to the more eloquent Japanese speakers.
In making her calls the missionary
should take her Bible. She will often
be called upon to explain passages. They
seem to expect it and the missionary will
save herself from chagrn and EN- barrass-
ment by taking her Bible. Soon Bible
reading will be expected wherever she
goes, and thus the conversation is easily
brought to the subject which should be
uppermost in the heart of the mission
ary-that of Christ and the higher life.
This also gives opportunity to select
readings suited to the needs of tne indi-
vdual. enabling the missionary to make
reference to misconduct or backsliding
without offence. for the words of Christ
will soften the heart, when the words OF
the missionary might harden it.
In this connection l would speak of
the companion or helper in the work.
| believe that an interpreter is lise a
mills one around ones neck and until
free from such an incumbrance she can
not progress. l have often felt that a
thoroughly trained Bible woman was not
the proper help for missionary. II the
Bible woman is at all efficient she can
do as we'll without the missionary as
with her. My own preference is for
some woman OF such position that she
can gain access to many homes of tact
40 that she can press home the tru BIS
we present so clumsily that they are not
easily understood; one also who could
not do the work independently. Employ
ing such woman is directly training
her for Bible work and that is one special
duty we have as missionaries.
The next thing would speak OF that
the missionary should bear 10 mind is
that the spirit in which she works is of
more importance than natural abilities
or attachments. II her heart is filed
with love for Christ and love and sym.
pathy for the people with whom she
works; il she is 30 filed with longing
to save human souls that she can forget
herself gladly; il the missionary is filled
with this spirit. she will be successful
missionary whether person of great
ability or small. of high attachments or
low. We know it was not the great
ability, the great wisdom or the great
bravery of Livingstone that enabled him
to win the esteem OF the African savages.
but it was because they saw the love for
them which glowed in his heart. We
have all seen or known about the work
of men of great personal magnetism, and
know what great influence they can
exert. IL we have this power Of personal