The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-22
LECTURISe IN JAPAN.


(Prof. q. Frederick Wright In the Con-
grcgationalist.)
When II was known that was to pass
through Japan ON my way 10 Siberia. IL
was suggested that bring selection Of
the slides with which have illustrated
lectures in America on the glacial period.
30 that the japanese could get the benefit
of few lectures ON that subject. The
experiment has been 80 successful and
interesting that brief record Of results
win do much to give correct idsa Of
what Is going ON In the minds Of this
most interesting people.
The lectures were given through an In
terpreter, and were all OF them free, but
usually under the auspices Of local edu-
tendance to those in some way connected
with them. In most cases the mission
aries have had nothing to do with them,
except to bring my proposed visit to the
attention Of the officers Of the societies
In all cases tina lantern has been found
in the looslitys and the material Of the
lectures has been the Dame ms that given
0CtOAD tA40 &<tWOAA Au84AtAt0 aaakOASoo Al
Boston, and similar bodies in America.
The anxiety Of the people to hear. such
lectures and their appre ciative attention
speak volumes respecting the intellectual
progress Of the Japanese people.
Ths first Of the series was In Maebsshi,
about 100 miles inland from Yokohama,
where Rev. G.. E. Albrech is the mis-
sionary. The city has about 10, 600 inhab-
itants, and is the seat of u normal school,
! was met at the station by the mayor,
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and many other
officials and citizens OF all professions,
An audience OF more than 1000 (Inany OF
them women) greeted me with the clos
est attention through a lecture which,
with Its Interpretation, lasted two hours.
1t was the first time that women had
ever attended q public meeting In that
city. The mayor also gave me banquet,
In true japanese style, attended by "
prominent citizens.
At Sendai, q city Of about 100, 900
(where Mr.. DE Forest is the leading mis-
sionary spirit), 700 miles farther north
and the most important educational GEN.
ter In that part OF the empire, the mayor
counted IL his highest honor that he was
president Of the educational society. The
lecture was presided over by him in the
city hall, and was attended by 1000
people. The number can be ascertained
by the wooden shoes which are left at
the door. the audience all going in In
their stocking feet, and seating them
selves on the fioor. As memento of this
1 was pre- sented with landscape paint
ing (akakenono) by their most distin
guished artist, who died half century
ago. On sunday afternoon was asked to
speak on the Relation of Christianity to
the scientific thought Of the age" in
a.. <,f ha V.tx ~ hafprxn
such students rs might care to attend.
More than 500 were present. and the adj
dress was reported In the papers OF the
following day. Indeed, so widely was II
reported and copied that when, four
weeks later, was to speak In Okayama,
go miles farther south, the people wanted
me to give different lecture, since they
had read that in the papers. i did not
find 1t SO easy to repeat sermon in
Japan as do In the United States.
At Toxic / gave four scientific iec-
tures-two before the imperial education
society, one before the imperial geological
society, and one before a society composed
eign legations 1.-THE wife Of Col. Buck, the
United States minister, presiding) and
the ladies Of the most noble japanese
families The attendance at all these
was limited only by the size of the rooms
and was confined TO the regular members.
presided over by MIR. Suji the former
minister OF education, and were attended
by large number both Of men and
women OF high official and social rank.
Here also an elaborate banquet and gar
den party were given at which the minis
ter of education was present. The ad-
dress to the ladies was the most unique
experience OF my life. 1t was given in
one Of the most elegant japanese houses
and was graced by the presence OF 30 most
beautifully dressed japanese ladies Of
high degree among them daughter OF
this late shotgun. The esthetic taste
shown In the dress and whole surround
ings of such a,.gathering is unequaled any
where else. The intellectual awakening
Of Japanese women indicated by the exis-
tence of this society Is most encouraging
The lecture given in Toxic on science
and religion was on rainy night, in a
large church close by the university, but
was crowded with most attentive lis
teners, many OF them students.
In addition TO these / have given to
crowded audiences two lectures each in
Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Oskayma in all
addressing about 15,OU0 people one lee
ture in each place being on a religious
subject. 1t will be said that have seen
the best side Of Japan. Probably that is
30. But 1t is a great thing that there is
such Il side to see. The Intellectual
awakening OF the Japanese people is per-
fectly phenomenal. The wave of preju
dice against foreigners which swept over
the country a few years ago has spent its
force, and the people are coming again to
their right mind. The claims OF Chris
tianity are now again receiving respect
full and careful attention. A most
prominent and influential Japanese
paper this morning has a long communi-
cation ON ths necessity for Japan TO ac-
cept the Christian standard OF ethics and
Of living. The need of redoubling our
efforts to disseminate the full knowledge
of the gospel throughout the empire was
never greater than now, and the signs of
progress were never SO hopeful.