The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-02

strong as we'll as to those now weak
Those which are first may be last, unless
they prepare for the days of reverse.
Those now last may be first. il they will
prudently protect themselves against
the storms of social life."
THE MISSION TO JAPAN.
Early in January last, Miss Catherine
Osborn, Of Avon. ILL.,, departed for Japan
to become one of the Missionary group
at Tokyo. Her engagement was for five
years. Her special department is teach
ing, and especially the instruction of
young women in the use of the kinder
garten system, as we'll as it's use by her.
self, in classes of girls.
The Board regret, as must all friends
Of the Mission, that Mr.. Rice was COM
PEELED to suspend his work and take
voyage across the sea, because OF debil-
ity accompanied with Inflammation of
the eyes, which disabled him alike from
labor and from study. He has recovered,
but remains awhile at the desire of the
Board, and will return next month.
Mr.. Gate. by his original agreement,
was to have vacation of six months at
the close of the first five years of his
connection with the Mission, which he
| had we'll earned. He has availed himself
| of his right, and was to have returned to
japan in the steamer of this date from
San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the Mission has been in
charge of Mr.. Leavitt and such of his
native assistants as he has chosen, es-
pecially Mr.. Hoshino, the pastor of the
Central Church. The position of the
Mission has been maintained, though
the absence of Messrs. Cate and Rice is
unfavorably felt. Their early return
will restore the Mission to full efficiency.
The accomplishments of the Mission
are truly gratifying, more than justify
ing the anticipations of those most deep
| ly interested in its promotion. Preach
ing stations have been established at
nine important points in Japan: The
Central Church, Tokyo; Tameike-cho,
Tokyo; Osaka. Sendai, Shizuoka, Okitsu,
Holden, Nagoya, Fukuoka. The Theol-
ogical School, at Tokyo, has been con-
tinued, and considerable number of
native Japanese students have been pre-
pared, or are preparing, for the Christian
ministry. Messrs. Hizedo Yoshimura,
Hisanari Hoshino and Genjiro Yamada
have bsen ordained. These native
preachers, together with seven native
assistants, are actively engaged in the
work under direction of the Mission
aries.
A Japanese Universalist Convention
has been organized. Its Constitution
provides satisfactorily for the influence
of our Missionaries in the councils of
that Convention, until the time when
the need of aid from the General Con-
vention shall cease. The Constitution
was framed by our Missionaries in con-
junction with chosen native assistants,
and submitted to Convention called
for its consideration; and is an attempt
at adapting the principles of organiza-
tion to the Japanese mind, without low
ering the Universalist standard.
In addition to these activities paper
has been published in the Japanese Ian
guage by the Mission, and school for
girls has been maintained in Tokyo, in
which not only the English language has
been taught, but distinct Christian
impression has been made upon such of
the female portion of the population as
came within the scope of the Missions
influence. AS suggested in the outset,
arrangements have been made for kin
dergarten instruction and for fitting JAP
anese for teaching by that system. Other
school facilities have been established at
Shizuoka and elsewhere, and are now
doing successful work.
When, at the inception of the enter
prise, the call for means to establish and
maintain it was issued it met with re-
sponse worthy of the people, which has
resulted in the payment into our treas
ury of $50, ,096, to which has been added
S2,855 OF interest. earned upon the large
advance pay of subscriptions. The call
was on the basis of much smaller sum
for five years expenditure; but while the
work has been conducted on a much
broader range. and the scale of expendi-
ture is much larger, the means OF the
Japan" account have enabled the Mis-
sion to carry on the work for six years.
A new appeal is required to those
who contributed so generously at first
and to all who are interested in the
work of the Universalist Church, to sus
tain the enterprise so happily begun,
and so far maintained. by another con-
tribution in its aid. The call is made
for sum sufficient to carry on the work
of the Mission for one year, and "All
Souls Sunday" November 3, is appoint
ed for the purpose of general contribu-
tion. The Rev. Clarence E. Rice has
delayed his return for month. by re-
quest, that he may speak at this session
of the Convention concerning the work
in which he was engaged before his
health failed, and which he renews with