The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-04-09

by the bunch in imitation of the
Chinese, and not singly as the
American boy does. All night
long on Christmas Eve the fire
crackers were popping, and
they continued during all the
next day. There were services
in all the churches and Sunday
schools similar to such services
in the United States on Christ
mas Day. The native churches
had their Christmas trees, the
different American and the
European churches their trees
and appropriate ceremonies.
The Chinese and Japanese
Christian churches, in imita-
ton of their white brothers,
also had Christmas trees and
devotional servives.
1 attended the Japanese N. E.
Church and Christmas tree.
The hall in which the services
were conducted was beautifully
decorated with a large fern tree
in one corner, Ornamented with
candles and tinsel paper, and
loaded with pretty presents.
The entertainment began with
singing by the Japanese. The
music was familiar but the
words were not. Then K. Ka-
hasaki, one of the Japanese
workers, read a chapter from
the Bible in his own language.
This was followed by prayer
from S. Nishi, an opening adj
dress by A. Iwamoto, a hymn.
Eyes, Jesus Loves Me-" byseven
Japanese boys; this followed by
Rotations in Japanese and
English by several little boys.
H. Nakano, a boy not over
twelve or fourteen years of age,
delivered an address in English
to the Americans present,
which might have done credit
to one much more advanced in
years.
After the benediction came
the presentation of gifts. This
was novel, amusing, and expen-
sive to a congregation as small
and poor as the Japanese, as in
addition to the special gifts on
the Christmas tree for indi-
vidual friends, they provided
gifts for visitors and all and the
house was we'll crowded with
visitors. The pastor of the
church, Rev II. Kihara, de
ivered an address to his
people in Japanese and he
was followed by Rev. II
w. Peck, of the Methodist
church. Then four young Jap
anese went through the audi
ence and distributed little rolls
of paper about the seize of q
pipe-stem. When unrolled each
| paper was found to have q
number on it, there being a
corresponding number on each
package brought for distribu-
ton. Some of the presents
were quite costly and others
cheap. The calling off of num-
bers of packages and distribu-
ton of presents caused quite q
little flutter of excitement, as
there was considerable incon-
gruity in the directions they
went, many grown men draw
ing tin horns or sewing bask,
cts, while some ladies received
cavalry spurs. My prize was g
set Of doll dishes, while Mrs
Jenkins, from New York, who
was on her way on a missionary
tour to Japan, drew a boys
sword. | asked her if she pro
posed to take Japan with the
sword in the way Nahomet es
tablished his faith.
Hawaii is truely a mission
airy country. The Influence o.
the missionary is felt on the
streets, in the stores, shops
and offices. AS a consequence
Christmas is a holiday almost
as sacredly kept as the Sabbath
and [ have never been in any
land where the Sabbath was Sc
sacredly observed. Honolulu
has saloons, but there is little
visible drunkenness. [ dom
remember having seen any man under
the influence of liquor, except a few
sailors. The enemies of the present
government contemptuously call it the
missionary government" because
most of the officials and heads of de-
partments are sons of missionaries.
During the latter part of Christmas
week rumor got abroad that Presi
dent Dole was going to begin the new