Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-04-21
DR.. ALEXANDER ON
Japan MISSIONARIES
Tells of Some of Difficult
ties Met With In
Work.
MASTERY OF LANGUAGE
VERY DIFFICULT MATTER
Something About Intelligence Of
Japanese and Their 0IatOriCal
PrOwess- Talk Very We'll
Received.

The Ministerial Union held its regu'
lar meeting IN the parlor of Central
Union church this morning at 10.
o'clock. The principal feature of the
meeting was talk which Or. Alexan-
der, missionary from Japan who is at
present making stay in this city, gave
on Missionary Probl.ms in Japan"
DR.. Alexander began his speech by
saying that as he believed most of those
present were quite well informed on
the missionary work going on in Japan
At present, he had chosen for his sub
iect the difficulties met with and prob
lens which confront the new mission
AIRY upon his arrival in Japan.
The first problem which the new mis-
sionary has to solve is the acquisition
Of the Japanese language. This is q
very hard task as the vague character
Of the Japanese idiom makes 1t very
difficult language TO master. The same
vague idiom Is the principal reason
why japanese seldom speak good En-
glish. the japanese language is much
harder than Chinese for the same rea'
son. TO teach the language, nearly all
the missions have regular two year
courses through which the novice must
pass and at the end of which period,
ne Is subjected to a rigid eXamina-
ton. During these first two years,
practically all his time Is devoted to the
study Of tte language and he Is given
no responsibility whatever At the end
OF this period and after passing the
examination, the new man is supposed
to know enough to use II in preaching,
The matter of learning the language
is one which takes years and as yet no
missionary has mastered the language
perfectly.
Another very important problem ia
the adjustment of the new missionary
to his environment ana his decision as
to what position he is to hold towards
his japanese brethren. This problem
is a very important one and one which
has caused the wreck OF many mis-
sionary.
The Christians in Japan are for the
/ greater part the old vassals and mill
tary class which in the beginning oil
the reign of the present Emperor, were
eft almost destitute or with very small
possessions. This clasi which Is an
intellectual and thi,king class, was
ready for anything. When they lost
their influence, many of them took ny
y estern ideas and Christianity was
embraced. These people are proud and
independent and have now taken hole
Of ecclesiastical affairs with their own
hands. To such an extent have they
done this that they hold the majority
in practically all the presbyteries anC
synods Of Japan. They are men, o
keen intellect, educated and well reaC
in both japanese, Chinese and En-
glish literature to such an extent tina
many of them are better educated thar
the averGIe clergyman in the States.
Now, when the missionary deals will
such men IL is a difficult problem Il
find exactly where he shall place him
self. They can excel him in preach
ing, principally because Of their knowl
edge Of the language and also becaus
they are generally porn orators. |
seems therefore tS be the best plan TO
the missionary to efface himself a
much as practicable as he in this wa
will have far more influence than if h
asserts himself too much, which al