Evening star., 1902-02-15


Nett. who Is the missionary maintained
by the association in the east. The let
ter written the last part of November
from steamer on the Indian ocean and Is
in the nature Of "A report of Mr.. Mott 5
doings He says:
Il write to give You some or the factS
OF interest regarding my work during the
four weeks spent In Japan. Owing 10 the
thorough preparation which had been made
for my visit and owing to the favorable
means of transportation In Japan not
day. I might almost say not an hour. was
spent to poor advantage. l devoted my
self to accomplishing three objects.
First of all I made close study OF the
young men of Japan and of the problems
involved IN the planting developing and
SURPRISING OF Christian associations
am ng them. Five days were spent with
our own representatives or secretaries in
Japan who are at work among students
and other classes Of young men Every
aspect of the work was discussed and an
undo rStanding arrived at to the lines
on which the work should be extended
during the coming years. interviews or
from one to five hours each were held with
the foremost missionaries of the different
societies at work in Japan as w II as with
thc ableSt Japan Sc clcrgymep and Chris
tian professors and other iaymen In these
interviews | followed the two question
and took extended notes on all points COY
erred. | had with me the manuals Of thc
principal mission boards of America and
Great Britain and studied the various
gu, Stions in th. light of the accumulated
experience of these organizations. am
hope fu that this investigation of the CON
diticns at the front will be of permanent
value to those the home field who are
Int rested in the important enterprise of
the extension of the kingdom of Christ
among the young men of the far east
The next object Of my visit to Jap1n
was 10 hold q national conference oil the
Christian associatio throughout the en-
pre-. This gathering was held at Tokyo
during the first week of October and last
ed four days. We limited the number "l
delegates strictly TO one hundred japanese
and twenty-five foreigners-the idea beng
to emphasize quality rather than numbers.
As a result it proved to be the most repre-
sentative and influential gathering of Jap
anese Christian leaders ever held. All
parts of the empire from Sapporo, In the
Tokhaido, on the north, to Nasasaki. in
kiuShiu on the south--a reach of thou
sand mileS-were represented. There were
In attendance pre- sidents and professors of
all the Christian colleges. officers and lead
ers of three-fourths of the associations in
the country. leading pastors and Christian
laymen from the large cities and a group of
missionaries selected with reference to
their special influence with young men.
You will he interested to know that Col
Buck. the United States minister to Japan,
and Hon. X. kataoka, speaker of the house
of representatives of the imperial diet.
were present al some of the sessions and
made speeches in commendation of our
movement. The aim to make 1t pre-
emircntly a Japanese convention. Dlstn-
gGished Japanese presided at all sessions
and directed the work Of all the commlt-
tees. With the exception of the seven or
eight addresses which | gave ana the ad-
dresses given by two or three other for
eisners. all the speaking was done by the
japanese themselves. Among their ad-
dresses We're some of remarkable grasp and
power. The two great purposes OF the con-
venton. as of the association movement,
were to promote the evangelization of the
young men of Japan and through them to
facilitate the evangeZation of the entire
country. All the topics and discussions
bore these two points. The convention
resulted in the adoption of an advanced
policy for the entire movement which will
mean great extension and solid develop
ment of the work. The leaders Of the diff
ferent associations were made familiar
with the principles and most approved
methods of associate work In western
lands and received inspiration to press
the work with vigor Without doubt the
convention has given an impetus to the
work of Christ among young men through
out the country. 1t was gratifying to me TO
find that the association movement COM
mands the confidence and hearty indorse-
ment of all the missionaries and japanese
Christian leaders. There Is no country in
the world where young men WELD such
vast influence. One may say with truth
that Japan is nation which has been de-
Ncioped and is being led by young men,
Nothing be more important therefore
than helping them to come into vital rela-
ton to Jesus Christ.
THE other thing which occupied me in
Japan was the carrying on OF eyangellstic
campaigns at a few of the principal stu
dent centers. In America had planned 10
devote any spare time which | might have
to thiS purpose. ! was able to give a little
over TWO weeks in all to evangelistic work:
NIT Sf,n tir,a I hal hX- f1 no
most fruitful and remarkable experience
of the kind that l have ever had. l cen
tered my efforts on six places in order that
I might do more thorough work. The de-
mand for similar meetings in other places
was very great. / declined invitations to
over twenty-five places. ] began at Sen
dai. the principal student center Of North
Japan. where within three days IL young
men were led to decide to become disciples
OF Jesus Christ. In Tokyo. the greatest
student center of the far east. during the
three days devoted to evangelistic meetings
right after the national convention, 453
young men made the same decision. In
connection with my work In Tokyo | was
invited to deliver an address on the In
fuence of Christianity Among Students
Throughout the World in one OF the lee
ture halls of the Imperial University. This
is the first time that the doors Of this high
est educational institution in Japan have
been opened for such a purpose. This. to-
gether with similar privilege accorded me
by two other government higher colleges. is
regarded by many as one or the most nOta
BILE and significant facts in connection with
my work in Japan. Nothing Of the kind
would have been possible when | was there
five years ago Next | went to kyOto the
head center of Buddhism in Japan. 1t is
said that there are not less than 10000
Buddhist priests in this city. 1t stands
next to Tokyo as a student community and
is much more difficult place to move.
During the meetings held here IL; students
decided to become Christians. Osaka. the
Commercial metropolis OF the country, a
city Of nearly a million inhabitants. was
the next field of labor. Here within two
DAYS 2l5 young men We're influenced to de-
eide for Christ. At Okayama, which is
also large student community. had what
proved to be one of the most remarkable
meetings of the series. In this one meet
ing 2'g young men decided to become Chris
tians. The city stirred to the depths.
The last place on my regular schedule was
KumamotO. which is considered to be the
most conservative student city in Japan,
not excepting Kyoto. Here. however, dur
Ing the two days 211 young men decided to
become disciples of Christ as Savior and
Lord.
During little over two weeks devoted
to these evangelistic meetings nearly If not
quite 800 young men decided to become
Christians, of whom over 1 900 We're stu
dents. A few were teachers. OF the stu