St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-07-27
Work Among Chinese Students.

The many friends of Robert E. Lewis
Of Shanghai. former secretary OF the
St. Johnsbury Y. M. c. A.. will be inter-
ested in the following letter describing
his trip to his new home and his first
days in his new field.
Midway between Occident and Orient,
the rugged volcanic mountains of Ha-
wall rose out OF the sea to meet our eyes
The great commercial Importance of this
republic, the culture Gifts capital, the
strength OF its religious life. and the phil
anthropy oil its citizens were all in strik-
ing contrast to the barbaric days before
the missionary redeemed the land. After
a glimpse at the benevolent, educational,
governmental, and religious institutions
of Honolulu, one was not greatly sur
prised to learn that there was Hawaii.
an foreign mission society, sending men
and money to the South Sea Islands.
Nor was it too much to believe when
President Ibuka. later on in Japan, told
us that the Hawaiian Christians contrib
uted $1,000 towards the first Christian
church built in Japan. We shall not easily
iOISVl tnN NdihSot IdSCo VI tDC oIuuCnto
in the famous Kamehameha schools, nor
the theological students in the North
Pacific Institute, who sent special
greeting to the students of America, Jap
an, and China. 1t was blessing to
meet DR.. Hiram Bingham of the Gilbert
Islands, who first reduced their language
writing and grammatical construction,
and then translated the Bible into the
language which he may almost be said
to have made" This record is remark
able even in the missionary annals.
FIVE DAYS IN JAPAN.
Five busy days in Japan found us in
the great centers of Tokyo, Yokohoma,
Kobe, and Nagasaki. Our stay included
a view OF the country from car windows
for four hundred miles; visits to five col.
leges; conferences with Presidents Ihuka
and Honda, and with our fellow secreta-
ries, Swift and Fisher; attendance at the
national council OF Kumiai churches; a
glimpse Of the new Association building
at the Imperial University, which has at
the top Morning Watch" room, par
titioned with screens, to afford small
quiet place for each worshipng student.
| We lSil luC idHu w iISlO WolSuiP " lC-
turn the first of July to participate in
the national student conferences of Jap
an. We claim your earnest prayers tor
these significant gatherings.
FIRST DAYS IN CHINA.
The student work in China is under
the control of a national committee OF
fourteen members. 1t was satisfaction
to begin work in the colleges of Central
China under the direction of such body
of men, including some ofthe leading edu-
Gators of the empire. The breadth of the
student Association work in China its
possibilities, its immense opportunities
and its providential beginnings are i'm.
pressive. With remarkable faith and
foresight. Mr.. Lyon has been carrying
on the quadruple burden of language
study, local work at Tientsin, editorial
writing, and national supervision.
That this is time OF religious as well
as political crisis is recognized on every
hand. The partition of China presents
different problems from the passing under
foreign control OF India and Africa
Were England to take China as she die
India, the Gospel would have the freest
entrance to the country. and the mis-
sionary be protected in his work. But
the result would undoubtedly be different