The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-15

are liable to drift from place to place
either in the endeavor to get an edu-
cation or to get employment suited
to their mental training. Hence in
three years the personnel of small
church may completely change and
when churches are few and far be-
tween, large per cent of such re-
movals results in loss of active SER
vice in the church. Hence the salts
faction that is felt when man who
is likely to stay is persuaded to iden-
tify himself with the church.
The work in Shidzuoka and vicinity
is in charge of Rev. Genjiro Yamada
and Mr.. Fujito. Mr.. Yamada labored
for several years in the Methodist
church previous to allying himself
with us. He is man of good char
acter and good mental ability, but
somewhat retiring and even timid in
nature. His greatest fault is his
lack of energy; he is more of stu
dent than an evangelist. We some
times get impatient over this, especi-
ally when the realization of the great
need of energetic work is on us; but
I think at such time it is easy to I'M
derestimate the value of such man.
1t is not always the man who makes
the most stir who accomplishes the
most. At least this fact must be
reckoned to the credit of Mr.. Yamada
and his co-worker, that in seven
months eight persons became men,
bers of the church, record not ex-
celled at any other of our outposts.
Mr.. Fujito was graduated from the
Theological School last June, so that
he has been in active service but six
months. He too is rather quiet and
thoughtful. During his three years
of preparation he was an exemplary
student, constantly growing in favor
with his teachers. l believe him to
be thoroughly conscientious. 1t is
too early of course to estimate his val
ne as preacher.
The Shidzuoka School is we'll
known to the loyal Universalists of
America. 1t is beyond doubt a good
school for the purpose of general ed
ucation. 1t stands high among the
schools of the city. An educational
meeting was held in Shidzuoka last
spring when the work of the various
girls schools was compared. The
Tokai 10 Gakko, which is the name
of our school, received high common
dalton. 1t also maintains its men,
bers and indeed it is said that the
present number is likely to be
doubled in the spring. The present
number is forty-two.
But there is one difficulty against
which we as missionaries have to
strive. 1t is not easy to make our
Japanese friends realize that mis-
sion school ought to include in its
course of instruction considerable
that is of religious nature. The
tendency is TO reduce the religious
instruction to minimum in order to
get large number of pupils. To a
large number religion or Christianity
is distasteful. By far the larger pro-
portion of such persons, however, are
moved by prejudice rather than by
intelligence. But of course this
makes the opposition no less decided.
We have to choose, then, between a
large school without Christian in
struction and a small one with it.
But it is not our purpose to maintain
a purely secular school. The public
schools provide for that. 1t is our
privilege to provide for Christian
education and to this end we strive.
From this time religious instruction
will be given four hours each week
and the school will be opened every
day by religious exercises.
But it is time to move on to our
next place-the city of Osaka. Of
this 1 will write in my next.
TOKYO, Jan. 8, 1896.