The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-24
Letter From Japan.
FROM A VISITOR.
10 TsUKIJI. TOKYO. JAPAN.


March %, 1897
1t is ten o'clock Sunday evening and
we are sitting by the dining-room table.
Our missionaries are sleeping the sleep
Of the just and having pleasant dreams,
we hope. Perhaps they are iourneying
in America. as we sometimes do, but it
is more probable that they are trying to
raise funds to continue in a prosperous
way the work in which they are engaged.
How many of our laymen and ministers
are so in sympathy with the mission as
to dream about it while sleeping? There
are already too many day dreams. Could
you have been in the Central church
this evening and heard the fifty children
present sing the opening hymn, you
would no longer dream and talk about
raising money. but raise it at once.
RETROSPECT.
Seven years ago we we're talking the
japan Mission 10 all our gatherings.
and many were having visions Of what
it would do for our beloved church in
the future. That future is now pres
ent. How the money flowed into the
Golfers from country. town and city.
How the missionaries were-we had al.
most said wined aud dined-"received."
and how proud we we're to speak of our
Foreign Mission. Where are the thous-
ands who were then it's friends? What
about the visions? Where is our pride?
Now when the mission is most in need
of true, loyal friends, who will aid it with
the fervor and zeal of seven years ago?
1t looks around and 10! the friends of old
were not friends, only acquaintances.
IA friend in need, is friend indeed
Why is it? Are there too many miles
between mother and child? Are we
suspicious of our missionaries? Doesn't
the work done warrant further support?
Who or what is the Jonah? Perhaps
DIR. Abbott can tell US.
Doubtless he would tell us to turn our
Mission over to some church that is still
needed in the world. Surely mistakes
have been made, but we have question.
ed other missions and have learned that
they have had troubled waters. We
had hoped that the circle begun in that
memorable year would grow larger and
larger till we could at least inclose all
Japan and yearly be more interested in
o,,. Erek apdaoyor m oorrv TIn;vareoi;eyo
to foreign land. But unless we rally
to the support of our mission there will
be no circle, for our hands are losing the
firm grasp of 80 and our arms are drop
ping to our sides. Must we wait for
some one to come to us as individuals
and churches to ask US to give some
thing?" Do we need an orator or silver
tonged money raiser to tell us our duty?
There was time when some one init
mated that some Of the laity and clergy
would withdraw support because of poor
management; but we believe there are
no thinking men and women in our
church who belong to the II told you
80" and II won't play" class. But while
the rain falls, making music just like
rain at home. let us go back to the morn.
ing when the sun shone brightly and the
air was bracing. 1t was eight o'clock
by our watch when we started for Sun
day-school and church. Three miles is
a good constitutional" We always al
low our thoughts to take journey across
the Pacific to invite our friends to walk
with US, though we know it is the even.
ing hour with them.
THE SUNDAY-sCHOOL.
At that early hour children were
gathered in small groups, playing games.
Boys were flying kites. All were bare
headed and many bare footed, and all
were seemingly happy. Who said, Hap
piness can be made Of cheap MATERIAL?
Our way was through market place
and already loads of produce were in
from the country. Bunches of golden
carrots that would have made our farm
ers envious; green's of various kinds for
salads; and the much liked daikon, white
and inviting looking. but with an odor
that foreigners can hardly appreciate.
The sun streaming down into the mar
row street reminded us of our late April
days. Everybody and everything was
out of doors. Men who were drawing
and pushing loads of produce were bare
footed. We could not resist the tempta-
tion to visit garden. which is near the
church. aud feast our eyes and souls
with the beauty and fragrance of plum.
daphne, cherry, iaponica, magnolia and
other blossoms. We bought go sen worth
of violets; they were such a sweet re-
minder of home. Soon we were in the
vestry where the Sunday school children,
seated in a semi-circle, were listening to
the teachers story. On entering the
vestry the children rose and bowed low
and gracefully. II they are not yet fully
trained in Christianity they know how
to be polite. They take time to be civil.
and that is more than can be said OF ali
Americans. This morning we were too
late for the opening exercises in the
church, but we learned that the child.
rem had been asked to give their favorite
texts. May we give you three of them?
Love thy neighbor as thyselt." "Trib-
ulation worketh patience. patience expe-
rience. and experience hope" II am the
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