The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-28
THE JAPAN MISSI0N-IMPRES-
SI0NS AFTER A YEARS
ABSENCE.
BY REV. CLARENCE f. RICE.

impressions of our Mission after be-
ing absent from the field for year.
During that time changes of greater
or less importance have taken place.
Rev. Edgar Leavitt was appointed
as missionary to Japan and has
been at work for a year. Rev. Mr..
Cate has been at home on furlough
for six months, and has returned.
Miss Osborn has also joined the mis-
sion force during my absence, and 1
return to find our scattered forces
once more centered in the field. 1t
would naturally be expected that the
absence of the greater part of our
missionary force, as we'll as the
changes in the personnel thereof,
would for the time being change the
order of work to some extent. But
now, with all hands at work once
more, and our little band moving
along the regular lines, I am able to
take survey of the field and report
impressions.
The Effect of the War
The two past years have wrought
great changes in the life of the ORR
ent and especially in the life of ia
pan. A war with China, fought, not
with the old bows and spears, but
with all the instruments of modern
warfare, has left its impress upon the
whole Eastern hemisphere. During
the struggle Japan had but one
theme and one aim. And now that
victory perches upon her banners
she can hardly settle herself to the
ordinary routine of life. To be vic
torious over the great Chinese EN-
pire is enough, perhaps, to turn the
head of a wiser and less conceited
nation than Japan. Naturally, the
people who have waited almost with
bated breath, would be elated at so
signal victory. During the war our
native evangelists complained that
men were too deeply interested in
warfare to think much of religion,
and now that the war is over, a good
many of the people are still too much
elated to think seriously of religion.
Of course all this we might have
prophesied. War and Christianity
do not harmonic. But we, as mis-
sion, have not suffered more than 9TH
ers. Every church in the land has
felt the effect of the war. And these
effects have not been entirely preju-
dicial to our work. The Government,
which for several years has been in
different to, if not opposed to Chris
tianity, has in several instances shown
itself favorable to Christian institu-
tons. But we must be patient for
while till the war flags are seen less
frequently, and till the excitement
and citation of victory are overpast.
Meanwhile we are at work perfect
ing our organization, remedying de-
fects in our system, earnestly preach
ing the Gospel, fitting students for
the work, publishing our monthly
magazine, visiting our outposts, and
generally trying to place ourselves
upon Christian footing.
A New Evening School.
One of the hopeful things about
New japan is the eagerness of the
young men to get an education.
There are thousands OF young men
in the Capital attending school, and
thousands of others who are too poor
to enter regular school, who are yet
eager to receive instruction. Many
who are engaged in business during
the day are glad to avail themselves
of night study. Feeling that among
this class there was an opportunity
for good work, night school for
English was recently established at
our Theological School building.
Each of the missionaries devotes two
evenings in the week TO this school.
The Bible, Bunyan's Pilgrims Pro-
gress, with other works in English
are studied, and the students are re-
quired to attend one religious service
at the church every week. Already
about fifty students have been en-
rolled in the school, which is entirely
selfsupporting. Of course this branch
of our work is new, but it bids fair to
bring us into close contact with a
larger number of Japanese, and to
impress our Christian thought upon
them. This school is largely due to
the efforts of our japanese workers,
who have been Jealous in its estab-
lishment and management.
Our Girls Schools.
Has not the Universalist Church a
genius for education and the estab-
lishment of educational institutionss
So it has proved in America and SO
l hope it may prove in Japan. Ger