The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-05-02
WORK IN JAPAN
Christian Laborer Points
Out Great Obstacles.
Great ara Enduring srersth CT
Tradition = Material Progress
Evil OF the Factory system.


stacles TO Christian Work in Japan,
at the meeting OF the Ministerial Union
Sunday morning. The first obstacle
mentioned was the factory system, a.
introduced into Japan from the United
States and Europe. Hitherto the man.
ufacture of crepe. brocade and other
such textile fabrics has been a house
hold industry. The manufacturer would
have from five to twenty weay-
ers In his employ, living on the prem.
Uses as part of his household, for whom
he held himself responsible. The work
hours were long. from sunrise till neal
midnight, but there was no very close
confinement. There was opportunity
for leisure, meals for seeing friends
for release from work on occasion
Now, all is changed. We have brick
factories, five and six stories high, with
500 or 900 operators, closely confined
TO work for twelve hours on a stretch
and then the night shift come IN fol
the next twelve hours. Young mcr
and women from the country are often
induced to enter the factories ON false
representations Of the kind of work tC
be done and leisure enjoyed and wages
paid. In the boarding houses, where
they are herded toge' her. there is op.
portuni;y for debauchery and immor.
ality, with little supervision CT the
character and conduct of the inmates
There is little opportunity also FOL
friendly intercourse in the way of nor.
al instruction or religious appeal. The
operatives are TOO tired after .leir
long hours OF work for such conversd-
ton. As these abuses of the system
become more evident, the japanese
Government will enact the legisla lion
needed to meet the emergency, as Eng
land and America have been necessl-
tated to do. forbidding the employment
Of children except for stated hours, and
with opportunity for education in
special schools.
Social immortality is so prevalent
that II Is as yet an insoluble problem
how to cope with it successfully. Con-
cubinage is not recognized by Japan
csc law, though Ii is well understood
that concubines are often reported DIS
servants. A Toxic paper published
the names Of 200 or 300 public person
ages, members of the legislature, pro-
fessOrs in the university, and Others OF
such prominent positions, who main
tanned two or more concubines. Against
this breaking down of family life, lit
tie or no remonstrance Is made by Bud
dhist priests: nor any protest against
the public supervision of prostitution.
That vice Is not lessened by such legal
supervision. whatever may be the fact
In regard to the diminution of disease
from that source. The little band of
Christian believers are standing uD
bravely against all forms Of immoral
Uy.
And even those who are not Chris
tian believers, astute statesmen, bust
ness men, are deplOring the spreai of
immortality. so ruinOus to the national
welfare. They attribute 1t to the utter
absence of religious teaching In the
Government schools. And to this want
Of moral instruction they attribute also
che spread OF spirit of insubordlna-
tion in The mercantile marine, for in
stance. The Buddhist priests are not
examples OF pure lives, and can hardly
be expected to oppose immortality in
others.
The provisions of the revised treaty
are going into effect July |, and both
Japanese and foreigners are looking
forward with much anxiety 10 the ell
1ects or the new ARRANGEMENTS All
foreigners are 10 come uhder the Juris :
eiction OF the Japanese Government. IL
is beileVed that this can De as sale,y
trusted as SPAN or Italy 10 zeal larry
with a foreigner. The japanese Gov
eminent, stimulated by the good work
lnna nv some Christian chanlainS in
the Government prisons are making
special preparation ior the reception OF
iorelsn criminals. Foreigners VIII nave
the privilege OF residing anywhere Ia
Japan ana leasing properly LOT res
idehces. Ihis VIII De decided adVaht-
age In the prosecution OF mission work
shough II remains 10 DE seen now they
VIII DE treated IN districts Where the
population Is extremely ignorant Dig
oted ana superStltious'
VI special interest was the settlement