The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-04
4 REMARKABLE CHARACTER.
Mrs. Chika SakuPai to Lecture Here
on Japanese Customs.

Mrs. Chika Sakurai, who is to arrive
In this city tomorrow. is one or the most
remarkable characters connected with
the work of Christian missions in Japan
As her name indicates, she Is a native
Japanese. her home being at NO. 8
Yayoi-cho, Hongo quarter, Tokyo. Al
though she is still a comparatively young
woman. she was converted twenty-three
years ago to Christianity from the an
cient heather faith of Japan, In which
she had been devoutly brought up. her
husband was at that time a young naval
officer occupying prominent position IN
the growing squadron which was soon 10
cut such figure in the development and
extension of modern Japan. She herself
was mere girl.
AS soon as she was converted she began
active work among her own people. and
belonging. as she did. to good family,
her influence was considerable. Twenty
two years ago she founded a japanese
school for girls in Tokyo. known as the
Sakurai school for girls. Here she did
a useful work training both herself and
her pupils for wider spheres of activity
later on.
One of the greatest joys of her life. and
one of the greatest triumphs of her faith.
came about at this time in the conversion
of her husband. who. under her infiu-
ence, gave up the faith of his fathers.
abandoned his position in the navy and
became a preacher of the gospel.
Thus united In the new faith. Mr.. and
Mrs. Sakurai undertook q tour through
out Japan. doing evsngelistic work among
the natives in many of the chief towns
and cities and carrying their work far
into the interior. One of the chief re-
suits OF this work was the founding of
a girls school at Osaka This school
has existed continuously since that time.
and is now known as the Naniwa girls
school.
Three years ago Mrs. sakurai came to
the United States as delegate from the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
OF Japan to the great gathering of religi-
Gus workers ut the Worlds fair at Chi
cago. Here she was thrown for the first
time in contact with n. L. Moody, and
the acquaintance exercised a marked in
fiuence on her future plans of work
With the assistance and co-opera ton of
several generous Americans she founded
the institution in Tokyo with which she
has been since most prominently identi-
fed, the Womens Christian Bible Insti-
tute, the object Of which is to train Chris
tian women for work in the churches
and among the many people I'm japan
who have no knowledge OF the Bible The
principal text book is the Bible 1--WE
also try to have every worker taught to
sing" says Mrs Sakurai, "as we feel that
Christian hymns have great power for
good, Each student has practical work
during her course of study either in
some church or IN q new field"
Mrs. Sakurai will lecture tomorrow
night NJ the Tabernacle Baptist church
corner Boren avenue and Jefferson street
at O'Clock. on the habits and customs
OF the japanese. In the interest of the
Bible institute at Tokyo She has been
travelling in the United States for the
last yesr for this purpose Mrs. Sal-rraf
Will be dressed IN fun japanese costume.
The affair will be under the auspices OF
the japanese I. NJ c. A.. and adinlttance
viii he free.